British No 1 needed replacement for Mark Petchey

Novak Djokovic pulls out of Cincinnati Open

Emma Raducanu has added Rafael Nadal’s former coach Francisco Roig to her team on a full-time basis before this month’s US Open, it is understood.

The 2021 winner at Flushing Meadows has worked with British coach Mark Petchey on an informal basis since March and enjoyed a positive run of results. However, Petchey’s TV commitments meant he was always unable to become Raducanu’s full-time coach and after a trial with Roig following Wimbledon, the 22-year-old will begin work with him in Cincinnati this week. He has agreed a contract until the end of 2025.

Raducanu has struggled to settle with a coach in recent years until her part-time work with Petchey started to pay dividends earlier this season. A WTA 1000 quarter-final showing at the Miami Open in March was followed by a last-16 run at the Italian Open before she made the last eight in the first women’s tournament at Queen’s Club.