Emma Raducanu Begins Trial with Coach Vladimir Platenik at Indian Wells

Emma Raducanu has started a trial period with coach Vladimir Platenik at Indian Wells. The British star, who has been without a permanent coach since January, is looking for a structured approach to her career. Platenik has previously coached top players like Dominika Cibulkova and Daria Kasatkina. Stay tuned with Smy Tennis for the latest updates in the world of tennis.

Emma Raducanu Begins Trial with Coach Vladimir Platenik at Indian Wells

British tennis star Emma Raducanu is set to begin a trial period with Slovakian coach Vladimir Platenik as she competes in the first round of the Indian Wells tournament on Thursday.

Platenik, 49, previously coached Lulu Sun, the New Zealand qualifier who defeated Raducanu in the fourth round of Wimbledon last July. With extensive experience coaching top players, including Dominika Cibulkova—whom he guided to the 2009 French Open semi-finals—Platenik has also worked with Russia’s Daria Kasatkina and Veronika Kudermetova.

[Emma Raducanu has won just one match since her third-round Australian Open exit in January]

Raducanu has been searching for a new coach since Nick Cavaday stepped down after the Australian Open due to health reasons. Loughborough Academy coach Tom Welsh temporarily joined her team for Indian Wells, but it was only a short-term arrangement.

"I don’t want to rush into anything, but I’m exploring options and setting up trials," Raducanu told BBC Sport. "Having a structured plan makes me feel more comfortable. In the Middle East, I lacked direction, and doing everything alone was very difficult. I’m someone who needs preparation and organization."

Since Cavaday’s departure, Raducanu has won only one match and has also dealt with security concerns involving a man who followed her to multiple tournaments before being issued a restraining order by Dubai Police.

The 2021 US Open champion has previously worked with several coaches, including Nigel Sears, Andrew Richardson (who led her to her Grand Slam title in New York), Torben Beltz, Dmitry Tursunov, and Sebastian Sachs. When asked about the qualities she seeks in a coach, Raducanu emphasized work ethic, passion, and enthusiasm.

"I look for someone with a strong drive to win big titles—someone who doesn’t see coaching as just a job but as a true passion," she said. "Many claim to have that hunger, but you can feel when it’s genuine. I am very instinct-driven when it comes to decisions."

As the Indian Wells tournament gets underway, notable matches include two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova’s 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 loss to France’s Varvara Gracheva. Kvitova is still seeking her first win since returning to the WTA Tour after giving birth last July. Additionally, former world number one and four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka faces Colombia’s Camila Osorio in her opening match.

Stay tuned with Smy Tennis for the latest updates in the world of tennis.