Emma Raducanu has made it clear that she’s not looking for a coach right now. She is happy to spend periods of her career without a full-time coach, instead tapping into some mentors and trusted faces. Raducanu has been doing this since she split from Francisco Roig in January.
The British number one has travelled with hitting partner Alexis Canter and sought out Mark Petchey’s guidance in Indian Wells earlier this month.
The tennis coaching carousel is a funny one. It’s rare that top coaches are available in the middle of the year. When one of them is suddenly free, you’ve got to jump at the opportunity.
Wim Fissette’s Availability
Raducanu must consider hiring Wim Fissette, who is now available. The Belgian has just ended his working partnership with world number three Iga Swiatek. He is exactly the type of coach Raducanu needs.
The 46-year-old has an incredible wealth of experience on the WTA Tour. He’s worked with Naomi Osaka, Angelique Kerber, Victoria Azarenka, Simona Halep, Qinwen Zheng, and Kim Clijsters, just to name a few.
He’s been part of seven Grand Slam victories, including Swiatek’s Wimbledon win last summer. He’s also worked with former British number one Johanna Konta, so he knows how the set-up works for the Brits, who often train at the National Tennis Centre.
Experience with High-Profile Players
Fissette knows what it’s like to work with players who receive intense levels of attention, and he can block out that noise. He may be one of the very few who understands what it is to work with players who have gone beyond the tennis sphere and live in a heightened spotlight.
Osaka is a superstar who has been open about the pressures of being a top tennis player and a celebrity in her own right. Like Raducanu, she’s inked plenty of brand deals and has often faced more scrutiny than her rivals for certain decisions on and off the court.
Fissette remained a key part of Osaka’s team from 2020 until her pregnancy break in 2022, and started coaching her again when she returned from pregnancy in 2023, until their split a couple of years ago. He was there while she struggled with media duties and withdrew from the 2021 French Open. He was a trusted figure and a rock for Osaka in those times.
It seems like he’d completely understand the unique position Raducanu is in, as a historic Grand Slam champion whose every move has been dissected and discussed over the past five years.
Fissette’s Coaching History
Fissette is known for cycling through plenty of top players. His coaching resume is vast and impressive, but that also means he’s never been a lifelong coach who sticks by one or two competitors for five-plus years.