In the wake of her recent victory at the Miami Open, British tennis sensation Emma Raducanu has found an unexpected ally in Australian star, Nick Kyrgios. The 22-year-old Brit has been embroiled in a series of coaching controversies, the latest being her split from coach Vladimir Platenik after a mere fortnight. This breakup forms part of a string of short-lived coaching stints for Raducanu.
Despite these challenges, Raducanu has shown an impressive performance in the Miami Open. Fresh off a dismal run, winning only one out of her five matches post the Australian Open, the 2021 US Open champion has exhibited a resurgence in Florida. Not only did she dominate the first round against Sayaka Ishii, but she also triumphed over American eighth-seed Emma Navarro in what is being touted as her best win of 2025. Her winning streak continued until McCartney Kessler, her latest opponent, retired mid-match due to a back injury.
Kyrgios, the Australian powerhouse, who himself enjoyed a sweet victory over Mackenzie McDonald at the Miami Open, his first competitive win since 2023, has been quite vocal about the event. He’s been particularly supportive of Raducanu, challenging her critics who questioned her decision to part ways with her coach.
In a clear jab at the supposed experts, Kyrgios took to social media after Brandon Nakashima’s victory over David Goffin, where he praised Nakashima and defended Raducanu. “Nakashima has to be one of the most underrated players in the game,” he wrote. “Also people awfully quiet that Raducanu is winning now – where all the experts at now? Lol coach’s overrated.”
The bond between Kyrgios and Raducanu appears to be reciprocated. When Kyrgios made it to his sole Slam singles final at Wimbledon in 2022, Raducanu showed her support with a post, to which he responded with gratitude.
The absence of a full-time coach hasn’t deterred Raducanu’s progress in Miami. She’s been working with former coach Mark Petchey and fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura. Jane O’Donoghue, a mentor who has been with her for a long time, has also accompanied her.
In the end, Kyrgios’s public endorsement of Raducanu’s performance and his lambasting of her critics raises an important question in the world of tennis: Is a coach truly essential for a player’s success or is their role overrated? As Raducanu continues to defy odds and impress on the court, the debate is surely set to intensify.
