British Tennis Forum - Celebrating 20 Years!

B00thy · County player

Week 23 - WTA500 - HSBC Championships, Queens, London

indiana · Tennis legend

christ wrote:
It won't be long before the "Mr Richardson deserted her" canard becomes the prevalent view, though: not everyone with dodgy recall has a CD to dig up the history. The BBC has already run with "Andrew Richardson - the coach who Raducanu has rehired after he unceremoniously left following her 2021 US Open win"

... especially as National Treasure Ms Raducanu finds it "very difficult to say that she made a mistake".

From my perspective I am just sad that we didn't get to see her in her prime with Mr Richardson alongside her.

Err, she's still only 23 yo !

the addict · Tennis legend

Tomorrow's order of play, starting at 1:30pm

F:- Emma Raducanu (GBR) WR42 v Donna Vekic (CRO) WR76 [LL]

followed by

F:- Tereza Mihalikova (SVK) / Olivia Nicholls (GBR) CR58 (29+29) v Leylah Fernandez (CAN) / Laura Siegemund (GER) CR106 (88+18)

HarryGem · County player

Coup Droit wrote:
Emma fired Andy because she thought he wouldn't be the right guy to take her forward, it wasn't because he wouldn't travel
This is one of the immediate articles after she fired him, from The Guardian:

"The 18-year-old decided to dispense with the services of Andrew Richardson, despite her shock victory in New York, because she believes she needs a top-class coach to develop her game and fitness.

However, Richardson, who had first coached Raducanu between the ages of 11 and 13 and joined her team on a short-term contract after Wimbledon, had very little experience on the WTA Tour.

Explaining her decision, Radcanu said: After Wimbledon, I was ranked around 200 in the world. And, at the time I thought Andrew would be a great coach to try and I went to the States. Never did I even dream of winning the US Open and having the run I did, and now Im ranked 22 in the world which is pretty crazy to me.

Its tough to have that conversation with anyone, but I need someone whos had that professional tour experience, and has been through it, and seen players in my situation for many years, going through the same because its going to take a lot.

There are a lot more articles and interviews with Emma along the same line

And recent ones where she's asked if it was a mistake for her to fire Andy:
Speaking with the media ahead of the French Open, Raducanu was asked if it was "a mistake" to ditch Richardson five years ago.
Raducanu: It was very difficult to say I made a mistake
"I think at that time it was very difficult to say I made a mistake, because in my life everything changed upside down, and I didn't really think I had the most handle over the situation in the sense that I was being pulled left and right," the 23-year-old explained.
It's not a problem, everyone makes mistakes, or would do things differently if they had the time again, but it definitely wasn't Andy Richardson's doing

Hindsight is a wonderful thing and though there were those questioning that decision 5 years ago, rightly in my opinion, it isn't possible to say what difference it would have made keeping AR as her coach.

Whilst the continuous changes in coach have been farcical there are many issues outside this part of her game. Mainly her fitness and well being. Whatever coach she had would not, in all likelihood, have made any difference to her wrist injury for which she required minor surgery or possibly the back issues she faced.

The one area it would have made a possible difference is enjoyment. There have been times when Emma simply hasn't looked like she was enjoying playing or even wanting to be on court. That wasn't the case today, though, her coach and box really got her through the quarter final when she looked, frankly, as if she wanted to perhaps withdraw.

Her performance against Jovic was the most complete I have seen from her for quite a while. Her match fitness is still short form where it could be and I think she will have a tough choice re. Nottingham next week especially if there is a slight niggle in her left thigh.

A win tomorrow would be meaningful in so many ways for Emma.

JonH · Tennis legend

Coup Droit wrote:
Emma fired Andy because she thought he wouldn't be the right guy to take her forward, it wasn't because he wouldn't travel
This is one of the immediate articles after she fired him, from The Guardian:

"The 18-year-old decided to dispense with the services of Andrew Richardson, despite her shock victory in New York, because she believes she needs a top-class coach to develop her game and fitness.

However, Richardson, who had first coached Raducanu between the ages of 11 and 13 and joined her team on a short-term contract after Wimbledon, had very little experience on the WTA Tour.

Explaining her decision, Radcanu said: After Wimbledon, I was ranked around 200 in the world. And, at the time I thought Andrew would be a great coach to try and I went to the States. Never did I even dream of winning the US Open and having the run I did, and now Im ranked 22 in the world which is pretty crazy to me.

Its tough to have that conversation with anyone, but I need someone whos had that professional tour experience, and has been through it, and seen players in my situation for many years, going through the same because its going to take a lot.

There are a lot more articles and interviews with Emma along the same line

And recent ones where she's asked if it was a mistake for her to fire Andy:
Speaking with the media ahead of the French Open, Raducanu was asked if it was "a mistake" to ditch Richardson five years ago.
Raducanu: It was very difficult to say I made a mistake
"I think at that time it was very difficult to say I made a mistake, because in my life everything changed upside down, and I didn't really think I had the most handle over the situation in the sense that I was being pulled left and right," the 23-year-old explained.
It's not a problem, everyone makes mistakes, or would do things differently if they had the time again, but it definitely wasn't Andy Richardson's doing

Agree - as an aside my comment above about where did Andy R go to for all those years, was very much tongue in cheek. Very much aware who got rid of who! my own comment was v much irony!

Blue_Belle · Pro player

HarryGem wrote:
Coup Droit wrote:
Emma fired Andy because she thought he wouldn't be the right guy to take her forward, it wasn't because he wouldn't travel
This is one of the immediate articles after she fired him, from The Guardian:

"The 18-year-old decided to dispense with the services of Andrew Richardson, despite her shock victory in New York, because she believes she needs a top-class coach to develop her game and fitness.

However, Richardson, who had first coached Raducanu between the ages of 11 and 13 and joined her team on a short-term contract after Wimbledon, had very little experience on the WTA Tour.

Explaining her decision, Radcanu said: After Wimbledon, I was ranked around 200 in the world. And, at the time I thought Andrew would be a great coach to try and I went to the States. Never did I even dream of winning the US Open and having the run I did, and now Im ranked 22 in the world which is pretty crazy to me.

Its tough to have that conversation with anyone, but I need someone whos had that professional tour experience, and has been through it, and seen players in my situation for many years, going through the same because its going to take a lot.

There are a lot more articles and interviews with Emma along the same line

And recent ones where she's asked if it was a mistake for her to fire Andy:
Speaking with the media ahead of the French Open, Raducanu was asked if it was "a mistake" to ditch Richardson five years ago.
Raducanu: It was very difficult to say I made a mistake
"I think at that time it was very difficult to say I made a mistake, because in my life everything changed upside down, and I didn't really think I had the most handle over the situation in the sense that I was being pulled left and right," the 23-year-old explained.
It's not a problem, everyone makes mistakes, or would do things differently if they had the time again, but it definitely wasn't Andy Richardson's doing
Hindsight is a wonderful thing and though there were those questioning that decision 5 years ago, rightly in my opinion, it isn't possible to say what difference it would have made keeping AR as her coach.
Whilst the continuous changes in coach have been farcical there are many issues outside this part of her game. Mainly her fitness and well being. Whatever coach she had would not, in all likelihood, have made any difference to her wrist injury for which she required minor surgery or possibly the back issues she faced.
The one area it would have made a possible difference is enjoyment. There have been times when Emma simply hasn't looked like she was enjoying playing or even wanting to be on court. That wasn't the case today, though, her coach and box really got her through the quarter final when she looked, frankly, as if she wanted to perhaps withdraw.
Her performance against Jovic was the most complete I have seen from her for quite a while. Her match fitness is still short form where it could be and I think she will have a tough choice re. Nottingham next week especially if there is a slight niggle in her left thigh.
A win tomorrow would be meaningful in so many ways for Emma.

Were the wrists minor surgeries though? And it was both wrists, and ankle?

Var · Challenger qualifying

Whatever has happened a WTA500 victory at Queens could be just what Emma needs. Just to win one trophy would help to rebuild reputation and confidence and IMO would have a serious impact on her performance. Come on Emma, then maybe we can start dreaming about Wimbledon. Notwithstanding Katies sterling work at putting out the number 1 and number 8 seeds.

-- Edited by Var on Sunday 14th of June 2026 07:54:59 AM

christ · Challenger qualifying

indiana wrote:
christ wrote:
It won't be long before the "Mr Richardson deserted her" canard becomes the prevalent view, though: not everyone with dodgy recall has a CD to dig up the history. The BBC has already run with "Andrew Richardson - the coach who Raducanu has rehired after he unceremoniously left following her 2021 US Open win"

... especially as National Treasure Ms Raducanu finds it "very difficult to say that she made a mistake".

From my perspective I am just sad that we didn't get to see her in her prime with Mr Richardson alongside her.
Err, she's still only 23 yo !

OK "prime" was maybe no the right word: but Ms Raducanu won the US Open five years ago at 19, and there have been a dozen or so Grand Slams since then where she was playing without Mr Richardson as her coach. I still can't help wondering about what might have been.

Elegant Point · Futures qualifying

As I said on the Emma chat:
imagine if the winning formula was simply putting the old batteries back in the controller !!

Ohh the irony biggrin

Blue_Belle · Pro player

christ wrote:
indiana wrote:
christ wrote:
It won't be long before the "Mr Richardson deserted her" canard becomes the prevalent view, though: not everyone with dodgy recall has a CD to dig up the history. The BBC has already run with "Andrew Richardson - the coach who Raducanu has rehired after he unceremoniously left following her 2021 US Open win"

... especially as National Treasure Ms Raducanu finds it "very difficult to say that she made a mistake".

From my perspective I am just sad that we didn't get to see her in her prime with Mr Richardson alongside her.
Err, she's still only 23 yo !
OK "prime" was maybe no the right word: but Ms Raducanu won the US Open five years ago at 19, and there have been a dozen or so Grand Slams since then where she was playing without Mr Richardson as her coach. I still can't help wondering about what might have been.

She's been absent for 4 of those slams

JonH · Tennis legend

Whats interesting also is that what she is doing isnt rocket science. Taking it early and attacking more. Yes, grass helps her, of course. But surely other coaches have said the same or havent they? Whats actually clicked or does Andy just get through to her?

As an aside, Petch seemed to get through also on his short stints as interim coach

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

christ wrote:
indiana wrote:
christ wrote:
It won't be long before the "Mr Richardson deserted her" canard becomes the prevalent view, though: not everyone with dodgy recall has a CD to dig up the history. The BBC has already run with "Andrew Richardson - the coach who Raducanu has rehired after he unceremoniously left following her 2021 US Open win"

... especially as National Treasure Ms Raducanu finds it "very difficult to say that she made a mistake".

From my perspective I am just sad that we didn't get to see her in her prime with Mr Richardson alongside her.
Err, she's still only 23 yo !
OK "prime" was maybe no the right word: but Ms Raducanu won the US Open five years ago at 19, and there have been a dozen or so Grand Slams since then where she was playing without Mr Richardson as her coach. I still can't help wondering about what might have been.

Emma is probably wondering the same smile

But my view is that youngsters are often 'eejits' - it goes with the territory - you have to love 'em and be patient

So, yes, I think Emma made some bad decisions and was definitely eejit material at times

And I don't think it's disloyal to say so, and I don't think we have to conveniently get amnesia

Indeed, Federer was a little tkye when he was about 18 - lots of kids age 18-22 are (I work with them all day long, bless 'em)

But people move on, they 'grow up', you can't hold their eejitness over them for ever

So, it would be wonderful if this is the start of a new dawn for Emma - with Andy at her side

Christine · Strong Club Player

Plus parental influence can't be ignored

GAMEOVER · Futures qualifying

This will be Donna's 4th grass court final in Britain and the 6th of her career on grass.The first was runner up at Birmingham in 2013.

B00thy · County player

As well as the injuries and illness (mental and physical) the predominant feeling I've had about Emma is that she underachieves in relation to how much she overthinks. Her confidence is brittle, hence the plethora of missed easy volleys or easy volleys straight back to her opponent during countless matches.

We're not seeing that here and I wonder if it's about AR. When she walked over to him all glum and pointing at her leg his response was "up the speed and change the direction". Perhaps He's "heard it all before", since she was a teenager, and just concentrates on what she needs to hear. She returned to court, upped her speed and started wrong-footing her opponent. Bingo!