Emma Raducanu has embarked on a transformative pre-season training block in Barcelona under the guidance of coach Francisco Roig, renowned for his work with Rafael Nadal. This partnership, which began during the summer, aims to enhance Raducanu’s game as she prepares for the upcoming season. After a challenging end to her previous season, where she withdrew from two exhibition matches due to light bone bruising in her right foot, the world No. 29 is eager to return to the courts.
Raducanu expressed her determination to continue building on the progress made with Roig. “I had to take a little bit of time after the season with my foot and I got sick,” she explained. “But I think just continue… it’s not like a secret sauce that we’re going to do.” Instead, she emphasized the importance of consistency in her training regimen, balancing time spent in the gym with more court practice.
Focus on Developing a Stronger Game
The former US Open champion is not rushing to push herself back to full intensity following her injury. Roig’s approach involves focusing on creating a “better Emma Raducanu” by establishing a solid foundation in her gameplay. Raducanu noted, “He’s wanted me to focus a lot more on building a better base level. It’s something that I don’t think I’ve necessarily done before.”
She acknowledged her previous tactical style, which often relied on exploiting opponents’ weaknesses. Now, she aims to refine her skills to execute her game plan more effectively, stating, “I don’t necessarily have something that can just blow someone off the court.” Roig’s goal is to improve her technique, timing, and movement rather than altering her physical capabilities.
Raducanu has already shown promise with Roig in her corner. In their initial tournament together at the Cincinnati Open, she pushed world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka to a final-set tiebreak. This success followed a competitive match at Wimbledon, where she also tested Sabalenka. These experiences have contributed positively to Raducanu’s confidence despite a rocky season finale.
Learning from Challenges and Setting Goals
The season concluded on a difficult note for Raducanu, as she faced early exits after leading in matches against Barbora Krejcikova in Seoul and Jessica Pegula in Beijing. Despite these setbacks, she remains optimistic. Reflecting on her match with Pegula, she noted, “I was very proactive in switching up the flights, the spins and being aggressive when I could.” This proactive approach is something she seeks to maintain moving into 2026.
With the goal of being seeded at a Grand Slam tournament, Raducanu currently holds the No. 29 position. Achieving a top-32 ranking would provide her the protection of a seed at the Majors. While she dreams of winning Wimbledon, she is realistic about her ambitions. “That’s always going to be a wish. You know, if you had, like a magic genie, like you want to win Wimbledon, that’s the goal for everyone,” she remarked with a smile.
Raducanu is committed to developing her game in a healthy environment, focusing on mental positivity toward tennis. “I want to train, and looking at it a bit less emotionally,” she explained. Her approach emphasizes gradual progress and improvement, key elements in her journey to becoming a stronger player.
As Emma Raducanu begins this new chapter with Francisco Roig, the tennis world is watching closely, eager to see how this partnership will unfold and reshape her career in the coming season.
