The narrative of Emma Raducanu’s professional tennis career, since her fairytale 2021 US Open victory, has been one of staggering highs followed by a persistent search for stability. A key part of that search has been the composition of her coaching team, which has seen a revolving door of high-profile names. As she works to climb back up the WTA rankings from her current position outside the top 300, a chorus of voices from within the sport is urging a fundamental shift in approach. The consensus is clear: to build lasting success, Raducanu must emulate the models of stability demonstrated by champions like Andy Murray and Aryna Sabalenka by constructing a trusted, long-term team around her.
The Cost of Constant Change
Following her historic Flushing Meadows triumph, Raducanu has worked with a succession of coaches, including Nigel Sears, Andrew Richardson, Torben Beltz, Dmitry Tursunov, and most recently, Nick Cavaday and Jane O'Donoghue in a trial capacity. This frequent turnover stands in stark contrast to the environments that foster sustained excellence. Each split came with explanations—a desire for a "new training model," differing "goals," or a need for a coach with tour-level experience—but the outcome has been a lack of continuity. This instability is seen as a significant factor behind her struggle with consistency and injuries.
The physical demands of the tour are immense, and a trusted team does more than just provide tactical advice. They understand an athlete’s body, their injury history, and their unique physiological responses to load. Constantly adapting to a new coach’s training philosophy and intensity can increase injury risk. As former British No. 1 Annabel Croft noted, "The most important thing for Emma is to find that right team around her and stick with it... Your team becomes your family on tour."
The Murray Blueprint: Long-Term Investment
Perhaps the most pertinent example for Raducanu is that of her compatriot, Andy Murray. His journey from talented junior to three-time Grand Slam champion and world No. 1 was built on a foundation of profound loyalty and long-term planning. For the majority of his career, Murray was coached by a tight-knit team, most notably Ivan Lendl in two separate stints that coincided with his greatest triumphs. This wasn’t just about hiring a famous name; it was about building a relationship where trust allowed for brutal honesty and incremental, long-term development.
Murray’s team extended beyond the coach. He maintained long-term partnerships with fitness trainers like Jez Green and Matt Little, who meticulously managed his physical development and later, his comeback from hip surgery. This consistency meant:
- Deep, mutual understanding: The team knew his body and mind intimately.
- Unwavering trust in crisis: During slumps or injuries, there was no blame, only collective problem-solving.
- A unified long-term vision: Every decision was made with his entire career arc in mind.
The Sabalenka Model: Emotional and Technical Pillars
On the women’s tour, the transformation of Aryna Sabalenka from a powerful but erratic contender into a dominant two-time Australian Open champion and world No. 1 offers a masterclass in team stability. For years, Sabalenka worked with coach Anton Dubrov and fitness trainer Jason Stacy. This team provided the technical and physical scaffolding for her game. However, a crucial addition came in the form of a sports psychologist, who helped her manage the performance anxiety that once plagued her service games.
Sabalenka’s team became her fortress. They celebrated the highs together and, more importantly, provided a safe, supportive space to work through the lows without judgment. After winning her second Australian Open title in 2024, she explicitly credited this stability: "We've been through so many things together... We just know each other so well, and we've been building this atmosphere for such a long time." This "atmosphere" is precisely what allows a player to perform under pressure, knowing their support system is unshakeable.
What a "Trusted Team" Entails
For Raducanu, building such a team means looking beyond just a headline coach. It requires a holistic unit where each member plays a specialized role, bound by loyalty and a shared multi-year project. Key pillars would include:
- A Lead Coach: A strategic mind she connects with personally, who oversees her technical and tactical roadmap.
- A Dedicated Fitness & Physio Expert: Someone to build her physical resilience and manage her load to prevent the stress fractures and niggles of the past.
- A Mental Performance Coach: To help navigate the unique and intense pressure of being "Emma Raducanu."
The Path Forward: Patience Over Quick Fixes
The allure of a quick fix with a new coach is strong, especially when results are slow to come. However, the examples of Murray and Sabalenka demonstrate that the greatest gains are made through sustained collaboration. Progress is rarely linear; it involves plateaus and setbacks. A long-term team views these not as failures, but as data points to learn from. They provide the patience required to develop the physical and technical foundations needed to compete at the top for a decade, not just for a fortnight.
As pundit and former player Laura Robson highlighted, the focus must shift from immediate outcomes to process: "It's about finding people she gels with, that she can have an argument with and then come back the next day and it's fine... It's that security that will allow her tennis to flourish without the off-court noise." This "off-court noise"—speculation about her team—has been a constant distraction. A settled team would finally silence it.
Conclusion: Building a Legacy, Not a Moment
Emma Raducanu’s talent is undeniable. Her US Open victory was no fluke, but a showcase of phenomenal skill and mental fortitude. To reclaim and surpass that level, the blueprint exists. By investing in a small, trusted team and committing to them for the long haul, she can create the stable environment needed for her body to strengthen, her game to evolve, and her mind to find peace on tour. The goal must shift from finding the perfect coach to building the perfect team—one that can guide her not just back into the top 100, but toward a legacy defined by longevity and sustained success, much like the champions she is now urged to emulate.