Emma Raducanu has split from coach Torben Beltz after only five months
(Picture: Getty Images)Emma Raducanu has split from coach Torben Beltz after just five months working together.
The 2021 US Open champion announced this morning that the pair had parted ways with immediate effect. It means Raducanu is on the lookout for a fourth coach in the space of less than a year.
Just two months away from the start of Wimbledon, the 19-year-old, who brought Beltz into her team back in November, said: “I want to thank Torben for his dedication.
“He has a huge heart and I have enjoyed our strong chemistry during the time together. The best direction for my development is to transition to a new training model with the LTA supporting in the interim.”
The Briton is set to have the LTA’s Iain Bates in her corner for the upcoming Madrid Open before tackling the second Grand Slam of the year, next month’s French Open.
Following a lengthy search in the wake of the US Open, she settled on Beltz to guide her in her first full season on the WTA Tour but is now on the search for another coach.
Beltz had previously primarily made a name for himself coaching the ex-world No1 Angelique Kerber to two Grand Slam titles – the Australian and US Opens back in 2016.
Announcing their partnership at the time, Raducanu had said: “I think that experience definitely helps with someone as inexperienced as me. He can guide me through, which I feel really confident about. Also, he’s a really positive, cheerful guy who brings energy to the team so I think that’s also important when you’re travelling on the road for quite a long time on the tour.”
Raducanu has endured mixed results since her US Open success. She impressed en route to the quarter-finals of last week’s Stuttgart Open before losing 6-4, 6-4 to world No1 Iga Swiatek.
But before that she suffered early losses at the Miami Open and in Indian Wells having previously struggled with injury while playing in Mexico.
Raducanu announced herself on the global stage by reaching the fourth round of last year’s Wimbledon under the tutelage of Nigel Sears. The experienced Sears was replaced by her former coach Andrew Richardson for her fairytale run to US Open glory before he too was axed.
Guided by her father Ian, they have broken from the more established model of a long-term coach, instead chopping and changing to extract knowledge from across the sport.
There is no time frame set for appointing a successor to Beltz to partner the world No11 on tour for the rest of the season, although there will be no shortage of suitors.
The timing of Beltz’s departure, however, raises eyebrows, following a recent upturn in form. The Briton impressed in her first clay-court outings in Stuttgart, only to come up against Pole Swiatek, who has been the clear form player in the women’s game this season.
