British teenager Emma Raducanu has split from her coach Andrew Richardson less that two weeks after winning the US Open.
RACQUET REVIEW | Emma Raducanu – the first ever qualifier to win a tennis Grand Slam
The 18-year-old was the first British woman in 44 years to win a major after beating 19-year-old Canadian Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-3 in the final at Flushing Meadows on September 11.
She was also the first qualifier ever to win a Grand Slam and the youngest major champion since 17-year-old Maria Sharapova won Wimbledon in 2004.
However, the world no 22 has now taken the decision to seek a coach with more WTA Tour level pedigree as she eyes the top 10.
Speaking after a homecoming event held by the Lawn Tennis Association at the National Tennis Centre, Raducanu said: “Where I was at after Wimbledon, I was ranked around 200 in the world and at the time I thought Andrew would be a great coach to trial so we went to the States but never did I even dream of winning the US Open and having the run I did and now I’m ranked 22 in the world, which is pretty crazy to me.
“I feel like at this stage in my career, and playing the top players in the world, I realised I really need someone right now that has had that WTA Tour experience at the high levels, which means that I’m looking for someone who has been at that level and knows what it takes.
“And especially right now because I’m so new to it, I really need someone to guide me who’s already been through that.”
Renowned tennis journalist Mike Dickson also confirmed the news on Twitter.
Raducanu has shot to stardom after her unexpected US Open triumph and last week also secured a major new endorsement deal with jewellery giant Tiffany & Co.