By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, August 29, 2025
Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty
Emma Raducanu’s US Open run hit a roadblock on Louis Armstrong Stadium today.
In a clash of Grand Slam champions, Elena Rybakina rolled Raducanu 6-1, 6-2 in 62 minutes to charge into the US Open fourth round for the first time.
Afterward, Raducanu clarified her partnership with new coach Francisco Roig, who coached Rafa Nadal for several years.
The 22-year-old Briton said she is committed to working with Roig until at least the end of the 2025 season.
Despite today’s lopsided defeat, Raducanu said their three-week partnership has been “pretty successful” and she’s looking forward to getting back to work with Roig.
“Yeah, right now we’re working through to the end of the year. I’m looking forward to just getting back to work really,” Raducanu said. “It’s only been three weeks, but I think it’s been a pretty successful three weeks in a sense that we’ve made good improvements.
“I think there are certain parts of my game which have gotten better for sure. Today, you know, my weaknesses were highlighted, but I think it’s only been three weeks, and he can’t really work miracles, you know. So I know we’re doing good work, and I just look forward to continuing.”
The 57-year-old Spaniard was a long-time coaching member of Nadal’s team, later coached Matteo Berrettini and has experience coaching on the WTA Tour as well. Roig, who reached a career-high rank of No. 60 on the ATP Tour, also coached 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens.
Roig succeeded Mark Petchey, who had been coaching Raducanu on an informal basis since the Miami Open. Tennis Channel analyst Petchey had agreed to work with Raducanu through the end of the grass-court season, but could not commit to coaching her full time because of his television commentary obligations.
Working with Petchey, who previously coached Andy Murray, Raducanu registered some of her best results in years.
In her brief tenure with Roig, Raducanu has worked the wide serve on the deuce side effectively to set up her first strike and has tried to spread the court with her shots. Additionally, Roig has tried to follow the Petchey model of ensuring Raducanu has fun with the process. Raducanu has shared shots on social media of her playing soccer and golf with coach Roig.
The challenge for the 2021 US Open champion is working wisely on the practice court without over-training and running the risk of injury.
“I think with me I want to train, like, a lot, and I practice quite a lot of hours, but I think at the same time it can put a lot of wear on my body,” Raducanu said. “So I think now I’m doing a good job. Pretty strong and fit overall for the most part. I’m not getting injured.
“But that’s where I need to be reined in, and I need the people around me to kind of pull me back and say, We’ve done enough. That’s how I kind of manage my load, because I always want to do more and practice more and play and compete more too.”
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