Emma Raducanu: Vladimir Platenik coach partnership ended over ‘stress and pressure’
Coach Vladimir Platenik said his brief partnership with Emma Raducanu ended because the British “feel very stressed and under a lot of pressure”.
Platenik told BBC Sport that he was “absolutely surprised” but he was “not angry” when the 22-year-old canceled the arrangement Only two weeks later.
The conversation was held at the Miami Open on Wednesday 10 days after training, on the eve of the second round of the UK.
“I know Emma in full, she’s not easy. After the U.S. Open, the world is watching her (she won in 2021), and everyone expects (including herself) what she’s going to do next.”
“So it’s absolutely understandable for me that she’s under a lot of pressure. She told me she’s feeling stressed.
“I don’t feel sad around me. She’s done the relationship in a fair way, maybe too fast, but it’s tennis, it’s sport. We need to respect that.
“She doesn’t feel good, that’s her decision. I don’t want to communicate more deeply about it. I think players need to feel good and players need to make decisions. Sometimes you make a good decision, sometimes it’s bad.”
Pranek said Radanu’s father Ian exchanged information with him from time to time, and he asked him late last month if he could recommend a coach.
Since Nick Cavaday stood up for health reasons, his daughter has not had a permanent coach.
Platenik explained that he initially suggested someone else’s name, but soon his partnership with New Zealander Lulu Sun resumed contact.
The 49-year-old Slovakia quickly boarded a flight to India’s Wells and arrived at the scene the day before Raducanu defeated Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima and said he was “surprised by how Emma works”.
“She really can’t stay in the assembly, with a lot of problems with movement at different speeds, different rotations and different angles,” he said.
“We had a great discussion and had a great communication from her side. I was so happy because I really had to say that I never had a player improving in speed – in eight days.
“She was in a very fast situation. I think that showed up in the first round as well (beating Sayaka Ishii of Miami). She played very correctly technically and tactically – that’s exactly what we’re practicing, so I’m glad she hopes she can get something out of my help.”
