Emma Raducanu to start trial with coach Vladimir Platenik at Indian Wells
Emma Raducanu will start the trial period with Slovak coach Vladimir Platenik when he competes in the first round at Indian Wells on Thursday.
The 49-year-old defeated Lulu Sun in the fourth round of Wimbledon last July when the New Zealand qualifiers beat Raducanu.
Platenik worked with Compatriot Dominika Cibulkova when he entered the semi-finals of the French Open in 2009, and coached Russians Daria Kasatkina and Veronika Kudermetova.
Loughborough Academy coach Tom Welsh agreed to join Indian Wells in Raducanu, but this is called a one-time arrangement.
Raducanu has not had a permanent coach since Nick Cavaday for health reasons, playing Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima in her India opening match for health reasons after the Australian Open in January.
Raducanu, 22, told BBC Sport before the game.
“I think once I have a structure, I feel very fixed – and it’s very difficult for me in the Middle East because I really don’t have any direction or (suggestions) to play in which kind of competition, and it’s very difficult for me to do it all by myself.
“I’m the kind of person who needs to plan and prepare. That’s what I’m building and it makes me feel more comfortable.”
Raducanu has won only one match since Cavaday left but also had to deal with a man who followed her for four matches before a restraining order was signed by Dubai police.
