Emma Raducanu`s recent parting with coach Vlado Platenik is attributed to “stress and pressure” experienced by the tennis star, according to Platenik.
The 22-year-old, winner of the U.S. Open in the past, began training with Platenik just before the Indian Wells tournament earlier this month.
However, just before the Miami Open, the brief collaboration ended after only a single match.
Raducanu has faced challenges throughout the current year.
Following her third-round appearance at the Australian Open, the British player experienced a series of four consecutive losses.
After ending this streak with a victory over Maria Sakkari in Dubai, Raducanu`s subsequent defeat in the second round to Karolina Muchova was overshadowed by an incident involving a stalker who had to be removed from the audience stands.
Platenik, in a BBC interview after the split, stated: “I fully understand Emma, she is in a difficult situation.”
“After the U.S. Open victory, the world, including herself, has high expectations for her next steps.”
“It`s completely understandable that she is under considerable pressure. She expressed feelings of stress to me.”
“I have no negative feelings. She ended our professional relationship respectfully, perhaps abruptly, but this is tennis, this is sports. We must respect that.”
Raducanu was defeated by Moyuka Uchijima 6-3, 6-2 in the first round of Indian Wells, which turned out to be Platenik`s only match as her coach.
However, the world No. 60 has shown resilience in Dubai, achieving victories against Sayaka Ishii and Emma Navarro, the eighth seed, to advance to the third round.
Platenik, 49, had planned to work with Raducanu until the French Open and believes their brief period together has already yielded positive results.
The Slovakian coach added: “We had a constructive conversation, and her communication was good. I was very pleased because I can honestly say I`ve never seen a player improve so rapidly – in just eight or nine days.”
“She grasped many concepts quickly. I believe this was evident in the first round.”
“She played technically and tactically correctly – exactly as we had practiced, so I am pleased and hope she benefited from my assistance.”
Raducanu, whose previous coach Nick Cavaday stepped down earlier in the year for health reasons, will now be seeking her eighth coach.
Meanwhile, the British No. 2 is scheduled to compete against American player McCartney Kessler in the third round of the Miami Open later today.
Following her second-round victory over Navarro, her first win against a top 10 player this year, Raducanu commented: “In the third set, I channeled a lot of emotion.”
“I`ve been through a lot, and I told myself: `You`ve endured too much to just give up now, to let it slip away.`”
“So, I fought for every point as if my life depended on it, and that felt incredibly powerful.”
