The tennis world was taken by surprise as Emma Raducanu, currently ranked 60th globally, abruptly concluded her coaching experiment with Vladimir ‘Vlado’ Platenik, a mere fortnight after it began. Earlier this month, Platenik was supposed to accompany Raducanu to Indian Wells, but he was conspicuously absent during her first Miami round win on Wednesday.
Raducanu promptly confirmed the dissolution of their working relationship, citing a lack of alignment in their vision. The Slovakian coach has since broken his silence on the brief coaching episode, expressing admiration for the Brit, despite being unceremoniously dropped.
The coaching duo teamed up on the eve of Raducanu’s inaugural Indian Wells match, where she was defeated by Moyuka Uchijima. Platenik, her newly appointed mentor, was a keen observer from her camp. Post-match, Raducanu conceded that she and Platenik were yet to engage in any substantial work.
Their collaboration was nipped in the bud as the 2021 US Open champion decided to terminate their trial partnership. Confirmation of their separation came from her team after Raducanu’s first Miami round win.
“Emma has the highest regard for Vlado and appreciates the work they initiated. However, the dynamics weren’t progressing as envisaged,” the statement read.
In response, Platenik acknowledged Raducanu’s decision to halt their partnership, attributing it to the substantial pressure she operates under. He labelled Raducanu as the most rapid learner he has ever encountered.
“Emma expressed a desire to momentarily pause our collaboration. Recognizing the immense pressure she experiences, I respect her decision,” Platenik shared with the Telegraph. “I wish our time together had been longer. That’s the nature of the sport though. Emma is extraordinarily talented, and I hope she can utilize some of my advice in the future. I wish her nothing but success.”
During his week-long stint with Raducanu in Florida, Platenik was instantly taken by her prowess. He noted, “I’ve never seen a player improve as rapidly as Emma. We had an intensive, yet rewarding eight or nine days of training. Our approach diverged from her norm, resulting in significant enhancements, particularly in footwork positioning.”
Despite being dismissed prior to her first Miami match, Platenik was full of praise for Raducanu’s performance in her 6-2 6-1 triumph over Sayaka Ishii. He observed, “I was impressed by her progress and the manner in which she played her first-round match. It was technically and tactically impeccable.”
“If she continues to consolidate the areas we worked on, she could re-enter the world’s top 20. However, I am always cautious about setting boundaries,” he added.
Following the termination of her 14-month alliance with Nick Cavaday in January due to his chronic health issue, Raducanu is actively seeking a full-time coach. For the meantime, she is accompanied by long-standing mentor Jane O’Donoghue and LTA coach Colin Beecher in Miami, although neither can commit to a permanent capacity within her team.