The tennis world watched with bated breath as Emma Raducanu, the history-making US Open champion, embarked on a new chapter in her career. After a period of coaching instability and injury setbacks, the Brit made a decisive move in late 2024, linking up with Spanish tactician Francisco Roig. Roig is no ordinary coach; for nearly two decades, he was a cornerstone of Rafael Nadal's team, a trusted confidant instrumental in crafting the clay-court mastery and relentless competitive spirit of a 22-time Grand Slam champion. His mission now? Not to create a carbon copy of Nadal, but to forge a better, more resilient, and tactically astute version of Emma Raducanu.
The Architect of Greatness: Who is Francisco Roig?
Francisco Roig’s credentials are etched in the annals of tennis history. While not a household name like some star coaches, his influence within the Nadal camp was profound. He joined Team Nadal in 2005, just as the young Mallorcan was beginning his assault on the tennis summit. Roig’s role evolved from a practice partner and scout to a strategic mastermind, particularly on clay. His deep understanding of point construction, heavy topspin, and the psychological warfare of long rallies was a perfect complement to Nadal’s innate power and fight. Roig was the man behind the scenes analyzing opponents, devising game plans, and fine-tuning the machinery of one of the sport's greatest champions. His philosophy is rooted in "suffering well"—embracing the grind and finding a path to victory even when not playing your best tennis.
A Foundation of Stability and Trust
For Raducanu, whose young career has been a whirlwind of unprecedented success followed by physical struggles and multiple coaching changes, Roig’s first and most crucial task is to provide stability. The partnership, which began with a training block in London and has continued through the off-season and into 2025, is built on a foundation of clear communication and long-term vision. Roig has emphasized that this is not a quick fix but a project. "The goal is to build a better Emma," Roig has stated, underscoring a holistic approach.
This means moving beyond the search for a magical technical tweak and focusing on constructing a robust athletic and competitive framework. Raducanu has spoken positively about the environment, noting Roig’s calm demeanor and experienced perspective. "He’s seen it all before," she remarked, highlighting the value of his decades at the pinnacle of the sport.
The Pillars of the Transformation
Roig’s plan to transform Raducanu appears to be built on several interconnected pillars, drawn from his Nadal playbook but adapted to her unique game and physique. The focus is not on making her a clay-court specialist, but on instilling the universal principles that made Nadal a threat on every surface.
Physical Resilience and Court Coverage
Raducanu’s career has been hampered by a series of niggling injuries. Roig’s primary objective is to build a more durable athlete capable of withstanding the grueling WTA schedule. This involves:
- Enhanced strength and conditioning to protect her joints and increase power.
- Developing a "fighter’s mentality" in her movement—anticipating one more ball and covering the court with relentless energy.
- Constructing points to manage her energy output, knowing when to be aggressive and when to extend rallies.
Tactical Maturity and Point Construction
While Raducanu possesses sublime, clean ball-striking, Roig is working to add layers of tactical nuance. The aim is to move her from a reactive shot-maker to a proactive match dictator. This involves developing a more reliable, heavy rally ball to neutralize opponents, a sharper understanding of patterns, and a more varied serve-and-return game. Roig wants Raducanu to have multiple game plans and the court-craft to switch between them mid-match—a hallmark of Nadal’s intelligence.
The Mental Fortitude of a Champion
Perhaps the most significant import from the Nadal academy is the mindset. Roig is keen to instill in Raducanu the unwavering competitive spirit that defines champions. He wants her to embrace the struggle, to find a way to win on days her ‘A’ game is absent. "You don’t need to play perfect tennis to win matches," is a lesson he repeatedly emphasizes.
This mental recalibration is crucial for Raducanu, who has sometimes appeared burdened by expectation. Roig’s approach is to simplify the focus: concentrate on the process, the next point, and the continuous pursuit of improvement, rather than the noise of rankings or past triumphs.
Early Signs and the Road Ahead
The 2025 season is the first real testing ground for the Raducanu-Roig partnership. Early matches have shown glimpses of the intended evolution: a more consistent first-serve percentage, a willingness to engage in longer baseline exchanges, and a visibly calmer, more composed demeanor on court. While results will fluctuate, the key metric for now is progress in her physical durability and the consistency of her performance level.
The ultimate test will be how this transformation holds up over the grueling two-week format of Grand Slams. Can a Roig-trained Raducanu navigate seven best-of-three-set matches with the physical and mental stamina required? The coach believes so, framing the challenge as a marathon, not a sprint. "We are building something," Roig has said. "The idea is that with time, she becomes a more complete player, a player who knows how to win in many different ways."
In Francisco Roig, Emma Raducanu has not hired a magician, but an architect. He is not trying to rebuild her flashy, attacking game from the ground up, but to fortify its foundations, add strategic rooms, and reinforce its structure against all storms. The goal is clear: to transition Raducanu from a brilliant, mercurial talent into a consistent, resilient, and tactically sophisticated champion—a better version of herself, forged with the wisdom of one of tennis’s most successful dynasties. The tennis world watches, intrigued to see if this fusion of British flair and Spanish grit can produce the next dominant force in the women’s game.