Coach Vladimir Platenik says his very temporary partnership with Emma Raducanu ended as a result of the Briton “was feeling confused and below numerous strain”.
Platenik instructed BBC Sport he was “completely stunned” however “not indignant” when the 22-year-old referred to as off the association after solely two weeks.
The dialog occurred after 10 days of coaching and on the eve of the British quantity two’s first-round match on the Miami Open on Wednesday.
“I completely perceive Emma, she’s not in a simple place. The world is taking a look at her after the US Open [which she won in 2021] and all people is anticipating – together with herself – what she goes to do subsequent,” Platenik mentioned.
“So for me it is completely comprehensible that she’s below numerous strain. She instructed me she was feeling confused.
“There are not any laborious emotions from my facet. She completed the connection in a good approach, perhaps too rapidly, however that is tennis, that is sport. We have to respect that.
“She was not feeling OK, and that was her determination. I did not need to go into deeper communication about that. I believe the participant must really feel good, and the participant must decide. Typically you make a great determination, and generally unhealthy.”
Platenik mentioned Raducanu’s father Ian, with whom he exchanges messages infrequently, requested him on the finish of final month whether or not he may suggest a coach.
His daughter had been with out a everlasting coach since Nick Cavaday stood down for well being causes in January.
Platenik defined that he initially steered another person’s identify, however was quickly again in contact when his partnership with New Zealander Lulu Solar got here to an unanticipated finish.
The 49-year-old Slovak promptly boarded a flight to Indian Wells and arrived on web site a day earlier than Raducanu’s defeat by Moyuka Uchijima of Japan, and mentioned he was “stunned by the best way Emma was working.”
“She was not likely capable of keep within the rallies, there have been numerous issues to play on the transfer with the completely different velocity, completely different spin and completely different angle,” he mentioned.
“We had a great dialogue, the communication was good from her facet. I used to be very glad as a result of I actually should say that I by no means had a participant bettering that quick – in eight, 9 days.
“She was getting numerous issues very quick. And I believe it additionally confirmed within the first spherical [victory over Sayaka Ishii in Miami]. She was taking part in very right, technically and tactically – precisely what we have been practising, so I am glad and I hope that she may take one thing out of my assist.”
