Andrew Richardson was the coach of Emma Raducanu when she lifted her first Grand Slam title in the US Open 2021. A few days later their ways parted. Despite her huge success, both she and her team decided not to extend her contract and Richardson was removed from the equation. While Raducanu has changed coaches several times, Andrew remains eager to coach his former pupil again. Now, the coach has spoken for the first time after his separation with the Daily Mail and has clarified the reason for it, denying that the reason was that he wanted to train his son.
“The fact is that he had a nine-week trial contract which both Emma and I thought was a good idea to see how we were going to get along and it lasted until the end of the US Open, stopping immediately after.
Andrew clarifies the reason for his break with Raducanu
“There was a period of time after that where I was anxious to renegotiate the contract. He wanted to continue and he had a plan that he wanted to implement for Emma. This ‘I wanted to go out and train my son’ thing isn’t true, but it seems to come up all the time.
After probably ten days or two weeks (after the US Open) I was out of contract. We were in the renegotiation process and then I got a brief call from his agent telling me that they were going to go in a different direction, and that was it.”
Richardson admits that he “learned a lot from the experience, that life has moved on and he’s very busy.” However, everything that came after Raducanu triumphed in New York was difficult for him, that and that his eldest son wanted to dedicate himself to professional tennis.
“There were a lot of family logistics to think about. A son was changing schools and I had to find a tennis situation that would work for Rocco and he needed to find a job. Putting all of that together was quite complicated, and there were still Covid restrictions that kept him going. made it even more complicated. Any parent with a child who is serious about tennis will identify with the fact that it can be a complicated business and many sacrifices have to be made.”
Richardson, based in Alicante
Some time after that experience with the British, Andrew moved to Spain and joined the David Ferrer Tennis Academy in Alicante, where he works as a “head coach”. “I first came here in October 2021 because I was looking for a place for Rocco to train for a couple of weeks before some tournaments. We liked it and we came back in March 2022 and I started to help out a bit by training some of the other kids. From there it grew and in July they offered me the position of head coach”.
Besides, the British admitted that several players and players have wanted to count on his services, but for now he will stay in Alicante. “Since what happened with Emma, I have had offers to return to tour, both WTA and ATP. The timing wasn’t right, but getting back on tour is definitely something I want to do in the future.
I have a situation here where my son has the best chance to pursue tennis, he is thriving and enjoying it and we are also at the start of a project here which is exciting for me in terms of my work.”.
In the UK children are under more pressure
And it is that Andrew has verified why Spain is a good place for the youngest who want to dedicate themselves to tennis. “Being in this environment becomes obvious, and we’re not talking about a Nadal or Alcaraz because they’re so good it would happen anyway. The weather, the clay, the cost, how easy it is to play and compete. Being able to support your son It’s much easier here than in the UK My son can play a tournament an hour from Alicante pretty much every week of the year and at a good level.
A kid who isn’t outstanding here at 14 will still have opportunities to compete and move on. If you don’t excel at a young age somewhere like the UK, it’s a very difficult road.”.
2023-05-15 16:47:56
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