The 2021 US Open champion begins a crucial trial period with Slovakian coach Vladimir Platenik, hoping to regain form at Indian Wells

Emma Raducanu is taking a significant step in her search for coaching stability, as she starts a trial period with Slovakian coach Vladimir Platenik. The 22-year-old British star will have Platenik by her side when she faces Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima in the first round at Indian Wells on Thursday.

Platenik, a respected figure in tennis coaching, has previously guided Dominika Cibulkova to the French Open semi-finals and worked with top players like Daria Kasatkina and Veronika Kudermetova. Interestingly, he was coaching Lulu Sun when the New Zealand qualifier shocked Raducanu in the fourth round of Wimbledon last year.

Since the departure of Nick Cavaday due to health reasons following the Australian Open, Raducanu has been without a permanent coach. Loughborough Academy coach Tom Welsh accompanied her to Indian Wells, but that was only a short-term arrangement. Now, Raducanu is determined to find a long-term solution.

“I don’t want to rush into anything, but I’m looking, I’m finding options and setting trials up,” Raducanu told BBC Sport before the tournament.

Her struggles on court have been evident, with just one match win since Cavaday’s exit. Beyond tennis, she has also faced unsettling off-court challenges, including a stalker who followed her to multiple tournaments before being restrained by Dubai Police.

Despite these difficulties, Raducanu remains focused on rebuilding her career with the right guidance. “I need a plan and preparation. In the Middle East, it was difficult because I didn’t have direction or advice on which tournaments to play. Doing it all alone was tough,” she admitted.

The former US Open champion has had a revolving door of coaches in her career, including Nigel Sears, Andrew Richardson (who coached her during her historic 2021 title run), Torben Beltz, Dmitry Tursunov, and Sebastian Sachs. Now, she is looking for a coach who can bring stability and a shared passion for success.

“I need someone with work ethic, genuine passion, and enthusiasm,” she said. “I have long training days, but it doesn’t feel like work to me. I need someone who shares that hunger to achieve the best and win big titles.”

Meanwhile, the Indian Wells tournament got off to an eventful start. Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova suffered a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 defeat to France’s Varvara Gracheva, leaving her still searching for her first win since returning to the tour after giving birth last July. Former world number one Naomi Osaka is also set to return to action, facing Colombia’s Camila Osorio overnight.

As Raducanu begins this trial run with Platenik, all eyes will be on whether this partnership can help her rediscover the form that once made her one of the sport’s brightest stars.