Emma Raducanu's US Open Bid Takes a Strategic Turn as Rafael Nadal's Old Coach Francisco Roig Joins Team.
The 22-year-old Briton, who won the 2021 US Open title as a teenage qualifier, has hired Francisco Roig, a 57-year-old Catalan with an impressive track record in coaching Rafa Nadal to 22 Grand Slam titles. Raducanu's decision to bring on board Roig comes after she missed most of the 2023 season due to injuries and was coached by Nick Cavaday before he stepped down in January.
Raducanu's partnership with Roig is seen as a strategic move, aiming to improve her game quality beyond just resilience. Feliciano Lopez, Raducanu's friend and former Spanish number two, describes Roig as "patient but also demanding," who pushes players until their technical issues are fixed. The coaching methods of Roig include unique drills that focus on practicality and specificity.
Lopez highlights Roig's exceptional technical knowledge, stating that he can see things other coaches cannot in a fraction of a second. Toni Nadal, Rafa's uncle and coach for 16 years, agrees with Lopez, saying Francisco is "a very good person, he is a man who you can be relaxed with."
Raducanu has already shown promising results under Roig's guidance, beating Olga Danilovic in the Cincinnati Open before pushing Aryna Sabalenka to her limit. Roig's sessions have been described as stimulating and challenging by Raducanu, who seeks a coach who loves being on court.
However, there is concern about how long Roig will last with Raducanu's team. Lopez believes that changing a coach can be difficult, especially for emotional or tactical reasons, and notes that giving it time might help the partnership develop.
Despite these concerns, the partnership between Raducanu and Roig appears promising, offering an opportunity to enhance her game quality and continue her upward trajectory in tennis.
The 22-year-old Briton, who won the 2021 US Open title as a teenage qualifier, has hired Francisco Roig, a 57-year-old Catalan with an impressive track record in coaching Rafa Nadal to 22 Grand Slam titles. Raducanu's decision to bring on board Roig comes after she missed most of the 2023 season due to injuries and was coached by Nick Cavaday before he stepped down in January.
Raducanu's partnership with Roig is seen as a strategic move, aiming to improve her game quality beyond just resilience. Feliciano Lopez, Raducanu's friend and former Spanish number two, describes Roig as "patient but also demanding," who pushes players until their technical issues are fixed. The coaching methods of Roig include unique drills that focus on practicality and specificity.
Lopez highlights Roig's exceptional technical knowledge, stating that he can see things other coaches cannot in a fraction of a second. Toni Nadal, Rafa's uncle and coach for 16 years, agrees with Lopez, saying Francisco is "a very good person, he is a man who you can be relaxed with."
Raducanu has already shown promising results under Roig's guidance, beating Olga Danilovic in the Cincinnati Open before pushing Aryna Sabalenka to her limit. Roig's sessions have been described as stimulating and challenging by Raducanu, who seeks a coach who loves being on court.
However, there is concern about how long Roig will last with Raducanu's team. Lopez believes that changing a coach can be difficult, especially for emotional or tactical reasons, and notes that giving it time might help the partnership develop.
Despite these concerns, the partnership between Raducanu and Roig appears promising, offering an opportunity to enhance her game quality and continue her upward trajectory in tennis.
so i think emma raducanu getting a new coach is like making changes in your car engine its not a bad thing... i mean rafael nadal had 22 grand slam titles with his old coach roig so maybe raducanu will get there too 
! I mean, have you seen Nadal's record? The guy is a legend! Raducanu's got some serious talent, but she needs someone who can help her take it to the next level, and Franco seems like that guy. His reputation as a coach is huge, and I love how he's all about fixing technical issues - it sounds so practical and smart 
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! She's been through some tough times with injuries and coaching changes, but bringing on Francisco Roig could be just what she needs to take her game to the next level 
. I mean, Rafael Nadal has an insane record with Coach Roig, so if he can help Rafa get 22 GS titles, why not Emma? 
. Plus, Feliciano Lopez says Roig is patient but demanding, which sounds like just what Raducanu needs right now 
. Fingers crossed this partnership works out for her! 
just saw this news about Emma Raducanu hiring Rafael Nadal's old coach Francisco Roig 
and roig seems like a good fit because he has experience with rafael nadal 
it's not always easy to find coaches who are both knowledgeable and down-to-earth 
. Plus, having a coach who loves being on court is all about energy and vibe, right? 
I remember when Emma won that US Open title back in 2021, she was just a teen and totally dominating the game... it's amazing to see her come back stronger than ever 
. I do worry about how long it'll take Raducanu to really gel with her new coach, but if she's already beating some top players like Danilovic and Sabalenka... it's looking good 
but bringing on board Francisco Roig is definitely a smart move! I mean, 22 grand slams? That's insane 
! Rafa Nadal's old coach has got some serious expertise under his belt 
.
. Changing coaches can be tough, especially if you're already struggling with injuries 
. Fingers crossed they can work through any issues and get Emma back on track 
!
Feliciano Lopez and Toni Nadal seem like top-notch guys who know their stuff. It'll be interesting to see how Raducanu improves under Roig's guidance. She's already shown some promising signs in the Cincinnati Open, beating Olga Danilovic and pushing Sabalenka to her limit 
It's all about finding the right fit, I guess. We'll just have to wait and see how this partnership develops. One thing's for sure, it's going to be an exciting ride for tennis fans 
still rooting for her tho, she was amazing last year 
but his record is insane 22 grand slam titles 
i mean, what more can emma ask for? she was struggling last year with all those injuries 
and nick cavaday just stepped down 
so i'm glad she's trying something new this time around 
and the drills they're gonna use are all about practicality and specificity 
let's see how it goes down!!! 
