Coach Platenik Reveals Why His Short-Lived Partnership with Emma Raducanu Ended | Tennis Drama Unpacked

Coaching Turmoil in Raducanu's Camp

Coach Vladimir Platenik has disclosed that his brief collaboration with British tennis sensation Emma Raducanu collapsed due to the player's overwhelming stress and pressure. The Slovakian coach, who previously guided stars like Daria Kasatkina, described the 22-year-old as "not feeling OK" during their truncated two-week partnership.

The Sudden Split

• Timing: The separation occurred just before Raducanu's Miami Open first-round match
• Training Insight: Platenik noted her rapid improvement in 10 training sessions but observed technical struggles in match play
• Communication: "She finished the relationship fairly," said Platenik, though he admitted it was "maybe too quickly"

Pressure Cooker Environment

"The world watches her since that 2021 US Open miracle," Platenik told BBC Sport. "Expectations from everyone - including Emma herself - create immense pressure." This revelation follows Raducanu's recent coaching carousel after Nick Cavaday's January departure for health reasons.

Technical Breakdown

Platenik provided a rare tactical analysis:

• Struggles maintaining rally consistency
• Difficulties handling varied ball speeds and spins
• Despite this, her Miami Open first-round performance showed promising execution of their drills

Future Possibilities

The coach left the door open for reconciliation:

"If she returns in six months saying 'Vlado, I made a mistake,' that's life. Tennis is about finding your best self."

However, tensions arose from Platenik's blunt Slovak media interview where he suggested Raducanu had "gone through hell" post-US Open victory. While Raducanu's camp expressed respect for Platenik, they felt the partnership "wasn't quite heading in the right direction."