Emma Raducanu explains reason for hiring Sebastian Sachs as new coach

Emma Raducanu ‘extremely grateful’ for MBE after meeting King at Windsor Castle

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Emma Raducanu has claimed her latest coach is a “calm influence” as she targets a return to winning ways in 2023. The British No 1 has not won a tournament since her 2021 US Open triumph while failing to find a long-term coach.

German Sebastian Sachs is now working with Raducanu in Abu Dhabi on a trial before she heads down to Australia. Sachs, 30, guided Belinda Bencic to an Olympic gold medal last year and has also worked with former world No 1 Victoria Azarenka and Germany’s Julia Gorges.

The Bromley-based star, who turned 20 last month, lost 5-7, 6-3, 10-8 to Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur in the Mubadala Championships exhibition event in Abu Dhabi.

And Raducanu said: “Yeah, we are trialling until the end of the year. Just seeing how it goes really. It has been going really well so far. I have only done a week with him. He’s a really calm influence. He is on it, switched on and excited to see how it goes.”

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Asked about her ambitions for the New Year, she added: “For me, I really want to make inroads at any tournament. Slams, I love the big occasions, I love the big courts, the atmosphere. Any tournament for me, my goal is in 2023 to win a title.”

Sachs becomes Raducanu’s fifth different coach in the last 18 months, after brief stints with the likes of Torben Beltz and then Dmitry Tursunov. The Briton is only just back out on the court after a wrist injury.

The British No 1 will begin her 2023 at the ASB Classic in Auckland on January 2. She will join the likes of Coco Gauff, Sloane Stephens and Leylah Fernandez in New Zealand.

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Speaking after her narrow loss to world No 2 Jabeur in Mubadala, Raducanu said: “Yeah I’m rather pleased. I had to cut my season short because of a wrist injury so I’ve just been building in the gym.

“Started getting back on court recently in last two weeks, so happy to be making some progressions and looking forward to 2023.”

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