After a disheartening exit from Indian Wells, tennis sensation Emma Raducanu is banking on her new mentor, Vladimir Platenik, to swiftly turn her fortunes around. The 22-year-old former US Open victor suffered a bruising defeat to Moyuka Uchijima, marking a string of six losses in her last seven matches. This comes in the wake of Platenik stepping into the shoes of Raducanu’s childhood coach, Nick Cavaday, who recently resigned due to health issues.
Platenik is not a newcomer to Raducanu’s world, having almost joined her team back in 2021 following her US Open victory. The young British tennis star had spent a trial week under his tutelage at the age of 17, and a contract was on the brink of being finalized. However, for reasons unexplained, the deal fell through.
Raducanu’s coaching carousel has been spinning fast, with Platenik being her seventh coach in merely four years. The reason, she admits, lies in her meticulous approach towards her craft. Speaking to BBC Radio Four’s The Today Programme in October 2023, Raducanu revealed her habit of peppering her coaches with questions, which often resulted in them being unable to match her pace.
Platenik, however, seems unfazed by Raducanu’s interrogative approach. The Slovakian coach has been vocal about his belief in her potential, despite acknowledging her recent struggles under the spotlight. Speaking to Slovakian newspaper Dennik N, Platenik admitted that the pressure on young talents like Raducanu is immense, often leading to injuries and inconsistent performance.
Yet, Platenik is confident about Raducanu’s resilience, stating, “She’s already gone through hell, she’s already been through the worst. She had a great year last year and they did a good job with her last coach. He left at his own request due to health problems. Today she’s more mature than [at the time of] the previous offers.”
The coach-player duo began their partnership the day before Raducanu’s defeat at Indian Wells. Together, they spent a painstaking 90 minutes studying her opponent’s game, demonstrating Raducanu’s commitment to perfection. Platenik, whose contract runs until the French Open in May, expressed his satisfaction with Raducanu’s approach, both professionally and personally.
Despite her multiple coaching changes and recent performance setbacks, Platenik remains optimistic about Raducanu’s future. He dismissed the notion that Raducanu lacks the motivation to replicate her US Open success, instead praising her grounded nature and professional approach.
As Platenik embarks on his mission to revamp Raducanu’s game, fans and critics alike are eager to see if his optimistic foresight will yield the desired results. As the saying goes, “Success is where preparation and opportunity meet.” And it appears that Raducanu, with Platenik at her side, is gearing up to seize her next grand opportunity.
