Serena Williams' ex-coach on the prospect of coaching Emma Raducanu: "You cannot change your project every 3 months, it doesn't make sense"

Renowned coach Patrick Mouratoglou recently said that British tennis sensation Emma Raducanu needs stability in her career. Mouratoglou also criticised Raducanu's frequent coaching changes.

Emma Raducanu created history when she won the US Open as a qualifier in 2021. But coaching instability and injuries have put her career in a tailspin ever since.

Raducanu split from Sebastian Sachs in the summer this year, the fifth coach who has come and gone since her emergence as a player with potential at Wimbledon two years ago. The former US Open champion has come under fire for the rapid changes in her coaching team the last two years.

"What hurt her so much is all those changes because you cannot change your tennis project every three months, it doesn't make sense," Mouratoglou, who trained the legendary Serena Williams between 2012 and 2022, told Britain's Sky Sports.

He emphasized the need for Raducanu to "hit the key," to find someone with whom she would be able to sail through the bad moments. When talking about whether he himself could be that "key," Mouratoglou said:

"I don't know. I haven't thought about it but all I can say is is she ready to trust someone? Can she trust a project and to follow that project for long enough to be able to make real progress that she needs to do in order to achieve her potential?"

Mouratoglou further said that though trusting people is not easy, the ability to stick with those who the player believes can get things done is the recipe for success.

"I understand it's not easy to trust someone but that's also what makes the careers of players. They have the ability to stick to people that they believe in, to a project they believe in and not change whenever there is anything wrong because it's a marathon," he said.

Mouratoglou added that Raducanu will not be able to unlock her full potential unless she finds "stability."

"But I hope she can find some stability around her because without stability she's not going to be able to achieve her potential and that would be sad," he said.

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Emma Raducanu to make a comeback at ASB Classic

Raducanu will be back in action at the ASB Classic in Auckland. The WTA-250 event, being held from January 1-7, will serve as a warm-up to the Australian Open.

Raducanu has received a wild card for the tournament in which current US Open champion Coco Gauff will be the top seed.

Emma Raducanu at the Australian Open 2023

Raducanu's ranking has nosedived to No. 296 from a high of World No. 10 in July 2022. The 21-year-old played only a handful of matches in 2023, and has not competed since April. She missed most of the season due to injury and underwent surgeries on her wrists and ankle.

Raducanu made her Auckland debut this year, but sustained an ankle injury in the second round against Viktoria Hruncakova.

The ASB Classic will also feature former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki and former No. 3 Elina Svitolina, who will continue their comebacks from maternity leave.