ammonnews.net

Ammon News - US Open champion Raducanu is now looking for a fourth coach in less than a year; Beltz was appointed after the US Open champion decided not to extend a short-term partnership with Andrew Richardson, following her stunning win in New York.

Emma Raducanu has split with her coach Torben Beltz after only five months together.

The US Open champion hired the German, best known for guiding Angelique Kerber through her professional career, at the end of last season but it has proved another short-lived relationship.

Raducanu said in a statement: "I want to thank Torben for his coaching, professionalism and dedication over last half a year. He has a huge heart and I have enjoyed our strong chemistry during the time together.

"I feel the best direction for my development is to transition to a new training model with the LTA supporting in the interim."

The decision means Raducanu is now looking for a fourth coach in less than a year.

Beltz was appointed after the US Open champion decided not to extend a short-term partnership with Andrew Richardson, following her stunning New York triumph.

Richardson had previously coached the 19-year-old at Bromley Tennis Centre and was chosen to accompany her at the US Open because of their familiarity with one another,

Previously, she had been working with Nigel Sears, who oversaw her run to the fourth round at Wimbledon last summer.

After her famous US Open win, Raducanu highlighted that she was looking for a more experienced mentor moving forward and her search led her to Beltz, with their partnership being announced at the end of November 2021.

Beltz had been Kerber's long-term mentor across a decade and had just parted ways with the 34-year-old.

Beltz helped with Kerber's first steps on the professional tour, including her move into the top 10 before they split for the first time in 2013.

They then reunited and Beltz was by Kerber's side for the best campaign of her career in 2016, when she won Grand Slam titles at the Australian Open and US Open, reached the Wimbledon final, claimed an Olympic silver medal and became world No 1.

The pair split again at the end of 2017 before reuniting for a third time, and finally parting ways prior to Beltz's time with Raducanu.

Tuesday's announcement comes after Raducanu's best week since hiring Beltz, with back-to-back wins on clay at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart and an encouraging performance in defeat to world number one Iga Swiatek.

But it follows a pattern that has continued from her junior days, with Raducanu, who is up to 11 in the world rankings, switching coaches frequently.

The 19-year-old, who continues her clay-court baptism in Madrid this week, will lean on the Lawn Tennis Association in the short term.

*SKY