Emma Raducanu has made another coaching change after a disappointing run at the Australian Open, ending her partnership with Francisco Roig, who previously coached Rafael Nadal. The British tennis star has become known for frequently changing coaches, and this latest decision continues that pattern as she looks to improve her performance on the WTA Tour.
Raducanu Confirms Alexis Canter as New Coach
Raducanu revealed during this year’s Transylvania Open that Alexis Canter, a coach affiliated with the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), will be joining her team moving forward. In an interview with the Tennis Channel, she provided details about her collaboration with Canter.
Right now, I’m here with Alexis [Canter]. He’s been helping me over the past two years,
Raducanu said.
She elaborated that Canter assists her both at her training base and occasionally while on tour. Raducanu appreciates Canter’s understanding of her as both a person and a player, emphasizing his own strong playing ability.
He knows how it feels from a player’s perspective.
Raducanu’s partnership with Canter has already produced positive results, including semifinal appearances in both singles and doubles at the Washington Open last year.
I feel like so far it’s worked really well,
she added.
For the foreseeable, I am just going to keep cracking on with him, doing the meat and potatoes of the work, and just doing the basics.
Raducanu’s Notable Performances at the 2025 Washington Open
Raducanu impressed last year at the Washington Open, advancing to the singles semifinals with wins over Marta Kostyuk, Naomi Osaka, and Maria Sakkari before falling to Anna Kalinskaya. In doubles, partnering with Elena Rybakina, she reached the semifinals but had to retire against Taylor Townsend and Zhang Shuai.
- 2025 Washington Open Singles:
- 1R: defeated Marta Kostyuk, 7-6, 6-4
- 2R: defeated Naomi Osaka, 6-4, 6-2
- QF: defeated Maria Sakkari, 6-4, 7-5
- SF: lost to Anna Kalinskaya, 4-6, 3-6
- 2025 Washington Open Doubles (with Elena Rybakina):
- 1R: defeated Tereza Mihalikova/Olivia Nicholls, 2-6, 7-6, 11-9
- QF: defeated Giuliana Olmos/Aldila Sutjiadi, 7-6, 6-4
- SF: retired versus Taylor Townsend/Zhang Shuai at 1-4
Progress at the 2026 Transylvania Open Puts Raducanu Back in Title Contention
Raducanu entered the Transylvania Open as the tournament’s top seed and is now one victory away from securing her second career WTA title. She battled through a demanding semifinal against Oleksandra Oliynykova that lasted nearly three hours. Despite being down a break in the final set, Raducanu staged a comeback to reach the final held in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Her opponent in the final will be Sorana Cirstea, a Romanian home favorite who defeated Daria Snigur in the other semifinal match. Raducanu and Cirstea previously faced off at Wimbledon 2021, where Raducanu emerged victorious in straight sets, winning 6-3, 7-5.
Expectations for the Transylvania Open Final Between Raducanu and Cirstea
Both players and fans are anticipating a highly competitive final. Cirstea expressed her excitement about the match, calling it a dream final for the tournament and acknowledging the challenge posed by Raducanu.
I think it’s going to be a great match, probably the dream final for this tournament,
Cirstea said.
She continued by highlighting her happiness and determination to enjoy the occasion despite the pressure of competing in front of her home crowd.
I worked hard to be here, so tomorrow I’m just going to enjoy it and play with a smile on my face.
The championship match is scheduled for Saturday, February 7, and will test whether Raducanu can repeat her Wimbledon success against Cirstea on Romanian soil.
