‘Absolutely surprised’ – Emma Raducanu’s axed coach blames two reasons for split after just 14 days
Emma Raducanu's former coach, who was in the job for just 14 days, admits he was shocked at the partnership being ended so early.
Raducanu brought on Vladimir Platenik prior to her first round exit at Indian Wells to Moyuka Uchijima.
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The 22-year-old described Platenik in Indian Wells as 'very serious and very professional' but reiterated they still needed to get to know each other better both on and off the court.
The pair trained together leading into the Miami Open, but Platenik was a curious absence from Raducanu's coaching box for her first round victory over Sayaka Ishii on Wednesday.
It has since been confirmed the pair will no longer work together, a decision driven by Raducanu.
Speaking to the BBC, Platenik outlined two reasons as to why Raducanu made the shock call.
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"I totally understand Emma, she's not in an easy position," Platenik said.
"The world is looking at her after the US Open [which she won in 2021] and everybody is expecting - including herself - what she is going to do next.
"So for me it's absolutely understandable that she's under a lot of pressure. She told me she was feeling stressed.
"There are no hard feelings from my side. She finished the relationship in a fair way, maybe too quickly, but this is tennis, this is sport. We need to respect that.
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"She was not feeling okay, and that was her decision. I didn't want to go into deeper communication about that. I think the player needs to feel good, and the player needs to make a decision.
"Sometimes you make a good decision, and sometimes bad."
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Despite the split, Platenik confirmed he would be open to a reunion with Raducanu in the future.
Platenik also claimed he and Raducanu struck a tentative agreement for the pair to work together until the French Open.
Platenik's axing means Raducanu has now gone through seven coaches in just over four years.
Raducanu has been without a permanent coach since Nick Cavaday, who stood down for health reasons following January's Australian Open.
The 22-year-old previously worked with Nigel Sears, Torben Beltz, Dmitry Tursunov, Sebastian Sachs and Andrew Richardson, who was at the helm for Raducanu's crowning moment in New York.
Former Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) national coach Jane O'Donoghue and LTA coach Colin Beecher sat in Raducanu's coaching box for her first round win over Ishii in Miami.
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Raducanu has since booked her spot in the third round at the Miami Open thanks to a 7-6 (8-6), 2-6, 7-6 (7-3) win over tenth seed Emma Navarro.
The 22-year-old's victory over Navarro marked her first win over an opponent ranked in the top 10 on hardcourts.