Emma Raducanu is set to have a familiar face in her player box at the Abu Dhabi Open, but it’s not someone entirely new. The 2021 US Open champion has called upon a former coach to help guide her through her next tournament after Nick Cavaday’s recent departure.
Cavaday, who had been working with Raducanu since late 2023, stepped down following the Australian Open due to health issues. His departure left Raducanu without a coach, prompting the British star to make her way to Singapore for the WTA 250 event, where she was accompanied only by her mother and fitness trainer, Yutaka Nakamura. Unfortunately, she suffered a first-round exit there.
However, ahead of her trip to the UAE, Raducanu reached out to someone she knew well from her junior days—Roman Kelecic. The Croatian coach had worked with Raducanu during her ITF junior days, and despite the years that have passed, their bond has remained strong. What began as a simple “catch-up” turned into a coaching collaboration for this week’s event in Abu Dhabi.
Reflecting on their long history together, Raducanu shared with The National: “He travelled with me when I was like 14, 15, in the junior ITFs. We went to all the glamorous places together when we were younger. And we haven’t honestly seen each other in so many years. But he’s based out of Dubai, and I wanted to catch up. So I texted him, and now he’s on court with me, helping me out this week.”
Since her breakthrough 2021 season, Raducanu has worked with a rotating cast of coaches, including Nigel Sears, Andrew Richardson, Dmitry Tursunov, Torben Beltz, Sebastian Sachs, and most recently, Cavaday. The partnership with Cavaday seemed promising, helping Raducanu return to the top 60 of the WTA rankings after a significant slump.
But Cavaday’s health must come first, and Raducanu expressed her understanding and support for his decision. “Nick is a great person. He’s someone I’ve known since I was a young girl, and he coached me before. We worked really well together,” Raducanu said. “Unfortunately, he had to prioritise his health, which I completely understand. I support him, and I just wish him the speediest of recoveries.”
Raducanu isn’t rushing into a decision to replace Cavaday. She’s taking her time to assess what she truly needs in a coach. “I think that’s why I haven’t necessarily jumped into something straight away,” she explained. “I want to make sure it’s the right fit. This period, where I don’t have someone, will teach me a lot. It’s going to show me what I want and what I don’t want in the next person.”
She plans to use the next couple of weeks to reflect on her goals and values, allowing time to guide her toward her next step. “I haven’t come to any decisions yet,” Raducanu said. “I’m just taking it one day at a time, using this time to figure out what feels right and then make a decision.”
With Kelecic by her side for now, Raducanu is focused on her immediate goals while she contemplates the best path forward for her career.