'Building a better Emma Raducanu' the focus for 'more robust' Brit heading into 2026 tennis season with coach Francisco Roig
Published 02/12/2025 at 11:42 GMT
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Emma Raducanu played 50 matches in a year for the first time in her career in 2025, and finished the season ranked at No. 29 in the world. She says she feels like she is "becoming more robust" and has revealed how she hopes to improve over the off-season with coach Francisco Roig. Raducanu will start 2026 playing alongside Jack Draper for Great Britain at the United Cup.
Watch: Raducanu unhappy at baby crying during Cincinnati loss
Video credit: SNTV
Emma Raducanu has revealed plans to build a "better" version of herself ahead of the 2026 tennis season, which will see her utilise her "skill and brain more".
Former US Open winner Raducanu had the busiest season of her tennis career in 2025, playing 50 matches across 22 tournaments.Â
She finished the year ranked at No. 29 in the world, high enough to be seeded for the Australian Open, which starts on January 18, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Raducanu is now set for a pre-season training block in Barcelona with coach Francisco Roig as they look for further improvements heading into 2026.
"Francis wants me to focus on building a better Emma Raducanu," she told the Daily Mail.
"I’ve always been more tactical, trying to exploit their weaknesses and be crafty. And it works, but the ideal is you don’t have to think too much about the other player: you can just go and execute your game.
"In terms of my weapons, I don’t necessarily have something that can blow someone off the court so I have to use my skill and my brain more."
Raducanu’s highlights from 2025 include reaching the semi-finals of the Washington Open and the quarter-finals of the WTA 1000 Miami Open.Â
However, she didn’t make it past the third round of a Grand Slam and was beaten in 10 of her 11 matches against top-10 players.
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Highlights: Ruthless Swiatek brushes aside Raducanu to progress
Video credit: TNT Sports
"Overall I have to be positive about the season," added Raducanu.Â
"It’s my first year of competing and playing that much so I’m proud of it. I am becoming more robust.
"I had never really put myself out there week to week, I would always have longer breaks. I was trying to work out what worked for me and this year was another iteration of that."
Raducanu is set to start her 2026 season playing alongside Jack Draper at the United Cup.
It will be the first time Raducanu has competed at the team event, having previously opted to usually start her season in Auckland, New Zealand.
Looking back on her 2025 campaign, she said: "I’ve learned a lot about myself this year.
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Raducanu says top players 'really lock in' against her after Rybakina loss
Video credit: SNTV
"The start of the year was not very smooth. I went through some very difficult times on and off the court, but it really taught me the strength that I have to pull myself out of it.
"Also what I need to do to avoid falling back in again. A lot of it is spending time studying, nurturing my brain. That’s something I need.
"So I feel very content. I’m pleased with the progress I’m making in myself as a person, maturing. I’m pleased and grateful for the great friends I have - and my parents, too."
Raducanu has also added to her team ahead of the new season, bringing in physiotherapist Emma Stewart.
Stewart has previously worked with the Women's Tennis Association and British Rowing.
"I did some work with her in Madrid in 2022 and she really helped me with my back at the time," Raducanu told the BBC.
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Emma Raducanu with coach Francisco Roig
Image credit: Getty Images
"In rowing, you see a lot of hip and back issues, and I've notoriously had a lot of problems with my back. She knows how to treat it, and certain flare-ups I've had, she's helped me with.
"Having another female on the team is going to be nice and probably different to what I've had previously.
"She's very thorough. When you're in the gym doing a certain exercise, she knows my body's weaknesses. She knows where I'm a little bit prone to picking up injuries, and how to strengthen those areas."
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Watch and stream top tennis action, including the 2026 Australian Open, live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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