Emma Raducanu: John McEnroe admits he was ‘surprised’ when Briton changed coach after US Open win in 2021

John McEnroe admits he was “surprised” that Emma Raducanu decided to change her coach after she won the US Open in 2021 with coach Andrew Richardson.

Raducanu has worked with Sachs, Dmitry Tursunov, Torben Beltz and Richardson since winning the title in New York, and prior to that she was coached by Nigel Sears when reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon 2021.

Last month, Richardson revealed how he was told in a “brief call” that his work with the British No. 1 would not be continuing despite the Grand Slam triumph.

And McEnroe admits he is not sure why Raducanu decided to split from Richardson.

“Whenever you have two or three surgeries you have to be concerned,” McEnroe said.

“I think she was doing the coach [Sachs] a favour from what it sounds like. If she’s not going to play for eight months the guy has to make a living.

“I’m not very surprised about that, I think it’s been clear throughout that she’s been searching for stability and for comfort. That she can feel she is on the right track. The only part I didn’t understand was in the beginning.

“Why she would part ways with her coach, I think it was Andrew Richardson. But why would you change a winning formula when you did something so unexpected? I don’t know the answer to that.

“I’m sure there were reasons but out of superstition alone you wouldn’t change something, so I was surprised.”

Raducanu rose up to world No. 10 in July 2022 but is now down at 107 after a difficult year amid a string of injuries.

McEnroe believes the 20-year-old has a long way to go to get back to the pinnacle of women’s tennis, but thinks she is capable of competing with the best again.

He said: “[Andy] Murray has won three Grand Slams and had an incredible career. Emma doesn’t want to be a one-hit wonder.

“She is young enough to be able to come back obviously and you want her to be able to. You’re pulling for her. You can feel the stress she has been under.

“It would be a shame if she wasn’t around. I hope she comes back and it will be a road back. It’s not going to be easy. Not until the end of the year at least I guess.

“It would be nice to have her in the mix.”

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