Emma Raducanu and Nick Cavaday split explained as coach departs following Australian Open campaign
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Emma Raducanu is searching for her seventh professional coach after parting ways with Nick Cavaday, who has stepped down due to health concerns.
The 22-year-old British tennis star has risen up the world rankings following her career-best third-round performance at the Australian Open.
The split comes after 14 months of collaboration between Raducanu and Cavaday, with the 38-year-old coach deciding to step away to focus on getting "back to full health".
Cavaday explained his departure, saying: "At this moment in time, it's important for me to spend some more time at home and prioritise getting back to full health, which is hard to do with the extensive calendar."
Emma Raducanu is searching for her seventh professional coach after parting ways with Nick Cavaday, who has stepped down due to health concerns
REUTERS
He expressed satisfaction with their partnership, stating: "I am very happy to have been able to work with Emma over the last 14 months."
The coach noted his pride in Raducanu's progress, adding: "I am glad Emma is back to being established on tour now with a ranking inside the top 60."
Raducanu expressed gratitude for their partnership, stating: "I'd like to thank Nick for a great partnership over the last year and a bit, especially post-surgeries.
"I wish him all the best in his next chapter and no doubt we'll stay in touch."
Emma Raducanu has known Nick Cavaday since she was 10
PA
The pair's connection extends well beyond their recently spell together, as Cavaday has known the Bromley-based tennis star since she was ten years old.
In her recent Melbourne campaign, Raducanu impressed by defeating 26th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova and Amanda Anisimova in straight sets.
Her run came to an end against world No.2 Iga Swiatek, whom she is yet to defeat in her career.
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She will now prepare for next week's WTA 250 in Singapore with fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura overseeing her preparation.
Raducanu's coaching changes have been frequent since her breakthrough in 2021, when she worked with both Nigel Sears and Andrew Richardson.
She subsequently partnered with Torben Beltz, Dmitry Tursunov and Sebastian Sachs before beginning her collaboration with Cavaday.
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The departure of Cavaday marks the sixth coaching change in her professional career, making her next appointment her seventh coach since turning professional.
Speaking after her recent Australian Open exit, meanwhile, Raducanu said the defeat to Swiatek was 'harsh' due to the scoreline - having won just one game.
"She played very well, but I also think that I didn't play very well. It's just not a great combination," Raducanu said.
"If a top player is playing perfect, it's going to be a difficult match already… The scoreline was obviously quite harsh.
Emma Raducanu was sent crashing out of the Australian Open by Iga Swiatek
REUTERS
"I'm very clear on what happened out there. If I'm not necessarily able to hold my service games or dictate, I feel like it seeps into the rest of my game.
"On my second serves, how the point is structured from then on, and also in the return games, you feel a lot more pressure.
"That was probably a big aspect today."
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