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Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Emma Raducanu's reason for axing countless coaches as Rafael Nadal's former ally appointed
Emma Raducanu will be without a full-time coach as she attempts to revive her career on the WTA Tour, but the British No. 1 has added Rafael Nadal's former mentor, Francisco Roig, to her team British tennis star Emma Raducanu has appointed Rafael Nadal's former mentor, Francisco Roig, to join her coaching carousel. The move follows Raducanu's candid admission about her high turnover of coaches, suggesting her relentless questioning might be overwhelming for some. The young tennis sensation has had a revolving door of coaches in recent years, including Nigel Sears, Vladimir Platenik, Nick Cavaday, Sebastian Sachs and US Open ally Andrew Richardson. Speaking to BBC Radio 4 in 2023, the Grand Slam winner confessed her "challenging" nature and constant probing could be why she has seen so many mentors come and go. "I ask my coaches a lot of questions," she said, via the Daily Express."On certain occasions, they haven't been able to keep up with the questions I've asked, and maybe that's why it ended. "It's something I've always done. I keep provoking and asking questions to coaches and challenging their thinking as well. I'm not someone that you can just tell me what to do and I'll do it, I need to understand why and then I'll do it." Fresh from her exit at the Canadian Open, where she was bested by American Amanda Anisimova, Raducanu is set to compete in the Cincinnati Open. This tournament will serve as her final tune-up before the US Open later in August, with Roig now part of her entourage. Mark Petchey has been assisting Raducanu on a casual basis since March, but with his media duties during the US hardcourt season, Raducanu will turn to Nadal's former mentor for support. The duo, who discussed plans at Wimbledon, are now focused on boosting Raducanu's rankings in time to secure seeding for the year's fourth and final Grand Slam. Raducanu's quest for a stable coaching relationship has been challenging as she has cycled through seven significant coaching partnerships since her 2021 US Open triumph. Nonetheless, her recent performances under Petchey's guidance, particularly her fierce match against Aryna Sabalenka at Wimbledon, have shown progress. Despite a commendable showing against the world No. 1 and exiting the tournament, Raducanu's efforts indicated a successful upturn in form. However, Petchey himself acknowledged in July that he couldn't commit to a full-time coaching position due to his television work. "I think at the moment we are a bit more short-term," he said. "Our situation is a little fluid at the moment. I am going to help her this week as much as I can. I have some other commitments I can't get out of. "We are very aware she needs a second coach to come on board and maybe just one coach, not me, as well. All I am trying to do is facilitate the best possible environment for Emma to produce the tennis she can. "Whether that involves me or does not involve me is not a question that I'm worried about. We are just trying to find something that will be stable or good for her." Raducanu will hope Roig's guidance benefits her game on court. The Spanish coach certainly understands what it takes to achieve greatness, having worked alongside 22-time Grand Slam champion Nadal for most of his illustrious career. Speaking previously to L'Equipe in 2022 about his approach with the tennis legend, Roig, whose partnership with Matteo Berrettini was short-lived, revealed that pushing through adversity was a key element of his support for Nadal: "There were many periods when he couldn't work as hard as he would have liked because of physical problems. "There were many periods when he couldn't work as hard as he would have liked because of physical problems. The more time passed, the more demanding he became of himself in training. Quality eventually took precedence over volume, but it was rare to see him finish sessions satisfied."
Daily Record
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Ugo Monye names under-the-radar Scotsman as player who should make British and Irish Lions squad
The British and Irish Lions squad to tour Australia will be named on Thursday, and Andy Farrell may have a few surprises up his sleeve that could mean good news for Scotland fans Ugo Monye has backed one surprise Scot and an underrated Englishman to make this summer's British and Irish Lions tour. Andy Farrell is set to announce his touring squad for the trip to Australia on Thursday, with fans eagerly debating who should be included in the quadrennial trip. Around this time in any Lions year, rugby enthusiasts far and wide are on the lookout for insider information on any surprise selections that might make the cut. There are typically at least one or two choices from left field that few anticipated, and this year is bound to be no different. Ireland head coach Farrell, 49, will have had a good idea of most of his squad for some time now. However, former England winger Monye, who was top try-scorer on the Lions tour of South Africa in 2009, pointed out two dark horse selections whom he believes could make a last-minute dash onto the plane. 'I'll give you two: Tom Jordan from Scotland," he told the Daily Express."He's brilliant. Really versatile. [He can play] 10, 12, 13, he can play 15. I wouldn't be surprised if he was there." Former Harlequins winger Monye is correct in suggesting Jordan's adaptability could make him an invaluable asset in Australia. The remote location makes it particularly challenging to fly in injury replacements in a prompt manner, and someone of Jordan's calibre has the potential to fill in several different positions. The Glasgow Warriors back has made a name for himself over the past couple of years and helped his club secure a United Rugby Championship title in 2024. The 26-year-old also made his Scotland debut last year, but Monye named a much more seasoned player as his other underdog selection. "I'm not sure I can categorise this person as a bolter, but he's late into the conversation: George Ford," he added. "I think his late form over the last couple of months has been extraordinary. He's the closest thing to a player-coach as you'll find out there right now. Absolutely. We've got two young 10s that could tour. Sam Prendergast and Fin Smith could do with some experience. "I think that's probably why Johnny Sexton's been brought in to the coaching staff. Finn Russell, we expect to go. But George Ford, I think he's a very, very strong candidate." The debate within the England camp has largely focused on who among Fin Smith, Marcus Smith, and Paris-based Owen Farrell - the son of head coach Andy - will be selected for the Lions tour. This speculation has somewhat overshadowed Sale's standout, Ford, and some might argue he's currently second only to Northampton's Smith in terms of form within that group. Oldham-born Ford, 32, has shone brightly for the Sharks following their shaky start this term, propelling them to third in the Premiership and close to securing a play-off spot. And it's exactly that kind of composure across a three-Test series down under that could prove worth his weight in gold. Farrell - having previously toured with Scotland's Russell - might prefer a familiar face in Australia, while Ford could provide a more stable presence, albeit lacking the same flair. That said, there's a compelling case to be made he has earned his spot on the team, in what is likely to be his final chance to become a Lion. Bath talisman Russell looks nailed on to be one of the fly-half options in the southern hemisphere after clinching a first-place finish in the Premiership. But he may not be the only Scot vying for a place in that backline, with Huw Jones, Duhan van der Merwe and Darcy Graham each in the running. Ugo Monye was speaking on behalf of Genting Casino. For a chance to roar the Lions on in Melbourne and Sydney then head over to Genting Casino LIONS TOUR 18+BeGambleAware
