'It's more about bringing my instincts back': Emma Raducanu's swipe at ex-coach as search continues

A few coaches on the professional circuit can expect to hear from Emma Raducanu this year as she reboots her search for a mentor who can help her rediscover her instincts.

It has been a torrid journey for Raducanu since she won the US Open in 2021, with a series of injury battles and early exits in major tournaments placing a cloud over her future.

The British star managed a late resurgence in 2025 and climbed back into the world's top 30 after competing in more matches than she had in any other season.

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Yet even with that success, Raducanu has struggled to find harmony with her coaches.

The 23-year-old is currently on the hunt for her eighth full-time coach after she opted to part ways with Francisco Roig following her second-round exit at the Australian Open.

Raducanu's partnership with the Spaniard reportedly ended due to a disagreement over her playing style, which the Brit had already voiced concerns about while at the Australian Open.

She has now set the record straight about what she is looking for in a coach.

"Right now, it's more about bringing my instincts back out, getting back in touch with myself," she told BBC Sport at the Indian Wells.

"I have had a lot of people telling me what to do, how to play, and it hasn't necessarily fit.

"So I want to come back to my natural way of playing. That takes time to relearn because that's something that has been coached out of me a little bit."

Raducanu is aware that whoever she selects to take on the role of being her head coach will inevitably face heavy scrutiny, but she does not want that to sway her the wrong way.

"I don't necessarily want to have one coach in the role because anyone I bring in is straight away going to be scrutinised - even if it's a trial," she added.

"I might feel the pressure to stick with them, even if it's not necessarily the right decision.

"I would love to have a coach that works well, but I don't think it's necessarily going to be easy to find one person and they are going to have to check every box.

"I definitely have my mind open to it. It's just that I would rather someone not come in and tell me 'let's do this', and I disagree with it but have to listen to them."

Raducanu is currently working with Alexis Canter, who she has worked with on and off over the past 12 months.

Canter, a former British professional, has worked with Raducanu at tournaments like the Washington Open, the Transylvania Open and now Indian Wells.

"So far Alexis (Canter) has been really good," Raducanu said of their temporary partnership.

"But I am definitely going to tap into a few people here and there."

Mark Petchey is one of the many on Raducanu's radar to step in as her coach. He recently accepted a call from her to assist her at Indian Wells, where he is also commentating.

Raducanu will take to the courts at Indian Wells for her first match on Saturday, March 7 AEDT.