In the sun-soaked courts of Miami, where the tennis world converges each spring, Emma Raducanu has been rewriting her story. The 2021 US Open champion, whose meteoric rise captivated fans globally, recently showcased some of her finest tennis since that unforgettable triumph in New York. Reaching the quarterfinals of the Miami Open in late March 2025, Raducanu reminded everyone of the brilliance that once saw her lift a Grand Slam trophy as a qualifier. Yet, as the buzz around her coaching carousel intensifies, former British No. 1 Tim Henman has stepped in with a fresh perspective: her next coach isn’t the pressing issue everyone thinks it is. Instead, he’s pinpointed a deeper, more critical challenge that could define her career trajectory.
Raducanu’s journey in Miami was nothing short of a resurgence. Entering the tournament with a modest 3-6 record for the year, the 22-year-old flipped the script. She dispatched Japan’s Sayaka Ishii in straight sets, then stunned the tennis world by toppling top-10 player Emma Navarro in a grueling three-set battle, clinching it 7-6 in the third. Victories over McCartney Kessler and Amanda Anisimova followed, propelling her to her first-ever WTA 1000 quarterfinal. Her run ended against Jessica Pegula, the eventual runner-up, but not without a fight—a three-set thriller that showcased her grit and flair. “She played some brilliant tennis in this tournament,” Henman remarked, his voice carrying the weight of someone who’s seen the sport’s highs and lows up close. For a player who’d lost six of her last seven matches before arriving in Florida, this was a statement of intent.
Yet, the spotlight often drifts from her on-court exploits to the revolving door of her coaching team. After parting ways with Vladimir Platenik following a single match at Indian Wells earlier this month—a 6-3, 6-2 defeat to Moyuka Uchijima—Raducanu arrived in Miami with familiar faces Mark Petchey and Jane O’Donoghue in her corner. Petchey, a seasoned commentator and ex-coach of Andy Murray, had worked with her before, as had O’Donoghue. The move sparked speculation: Is this a temporary fix or a hint at her next chapter? For Henman, though, the chatter misses the mark. “She does it differently. She changes coaches. That isn’t necessarily what everyone else likes to do, but she is comfortable changing that up,” he observed, reflecting on her unconventional approach. In his own 15-year career, Henman relied on just three coaches, valuing stability. But he’s quick to acknowledge that what worked for him isn’t a universal blueprint. “For me, building physical resilience is most important,” he emphasized, steering the conversation away from the sidelines and back to the court.
That resilience, or lack thereof, is the real crux of Raducanu’s story, according to Henman. Since her fairy-tale US Open win at 18—where she didn’t drop a set across 10 matches, including qualifiers—her career has been a rollercoaster of promise and setbacks. Injuries have been the persistent shadow: wrist surgeries, an ankle operation, and a litany of minor ailments that saw her play just 33 matches in 2024, with only 22 outside the grass season. “She has almost had her career back to front,” Henman mused, pointing to how her Grand Slam glory came before her body could build the foundation to sustain it. The Miami run, he believes, is proof of what’s possible when she’s fit. “The turning point was the Emma Navarro match,” he said, highlighting the confidence boost from outlasting a top-10 foe. “The four wins she had will give her a lot of belief moving forward.”
Raducanu herself has embraced this moment of rediscovery. “When she talks about having fun and being authentic, that gives her the opportunity to express herself on the court,” Henman noted, echoing her own sentiments about finding joy in the game again. Off the court, she’s leaned on a tight-knit team, including a physical trainer whose work shone through in Miami. “I thought her movement both offensively and defensively looked fantastic,” he added, crediting the hours spent in the gym. It’s a stark contrast to the narrative of a player adrift, cycling through coaches—five in three years since her US Open triumph—with little direction. Instead, Henman sees a young woman forging her own path, even if it defies convention.
As Raducanu prepares for the clay season, with Charleston on the horizon, the question lingers: Can she stay healthy enough to string together more weeks like Miami? Henman’s optimism is tempered with realism. “It’s great that she has competed a lot more this year after Australia,” he said, nodding to her improved schedule in 2025. But he knows the physical toll of the tour is relentless, especially for someone whose body has broken down under competition’s strain before. The coaching puzzle will resolve itself—rumors swirl about a potential reunion with Petchey once his Tennis Channel commitments ease—but Henman’s focus remains elsewhere. For him, Raducanu’s talent is undeniable; the challenge is keeping her on the court long enough to let it flourish. If she can, the top 10—a ranking she briefly touched in 2022—could beckon again by year’s end. For now, Miami stands as a beacon of hope, a reminder that her biggest concern isn’t who’s in her box, but how she holds up beyond it.
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