Raducanu splits with coach after less than six months & releases brief statement

EMMA RADUCANU has split with coach Sebastian Sachs after just five-and-a-half months together.

The 2021 US Open champion will be seeking new mentorship and guidance when she returns to the WTA Tour following an injury layoff.

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Raducanu is sidelined at present after undergoing three surgeries in May – one on her left hand, one on her right hand and one on her left ankle.

The 20-year-old – who will miss the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open – has hired and fired a number of coaches over the past two years.

Raducanu’s team say it was a mutual decision and they leave on good terms given the situation though the search for a new member of her backroom staff has not yet started.

Raducanu said: “I have really enjoyed Seb’s coaching and working with him.

“It’s unfortunate that circumstances made it unfeasible for both of us to continue right now and we have decided to part ways. I wish Seb all the best moving forwards.”

Sachs, 31, who helped Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic win the Olympic gold medal in Tokyo, was claimed to have been a calming influence on the young Brit.

They first started working together last December ahead of an exhibition match in Abu Dhabi against Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur.

He was in her corner when she lost to Coco Gauff in the second round of the Australian Open in January.

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When Raducanu enjoyed her breakthrough at Wimbledon two years ago – she made a run to the last 16 – Andy Murray’s father-in-law Niger Sears was her coach.

For the fairy-tale win in New York, she was tutored by LTA staff member Andrew Richardson but the pair stopped their partnership as soon as she got home from the United States.

Since then, she has worked with German Torben Beltz and Russian Dmitry Tursunov but none of those collaboration brought her much success.

She has also worked briefly with and gained advice from Jeremy Bates, Jane O’Donoghue, Iain Bates and doubles guru Louis Cayer.

Raducanu, who is 107th on the WTA rankings list, is set to be overtaken as British No.1 by Jodie Burrage in the coming weeks.

When she does return to the circuit, which is likely to be late 2023 or the New Year, she will be able to use an injury protected ranking status for entries into competitions.