Recent reports indicate that British tennis sensation Emma Raducanu has reconnected with her childhood coach Nick Cavaday as she prepares to make her comeback to the tour in 2024.
Cavaday, a former British tennis player, has allegedly been supporting Raducanu at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton. The Times, London reported that Cavaday, who previously coached at the LTA High Performance Centre in Bromley, has been on the court with the 2021 US Open Champion in recent practice sessions.
Despite no official confirmation from Raducanu’s management regarding Cavaday’s involvement, sources suggest that his sudden assistance hints at a potential collaboration for her upcoming tournaments, including the Auckland Open starting on January 1, 2024.
Adding to Raducanu’s team, Indian tennis player Somdev Devvarman has purportedly joined as a hitting partner. The move comes as Raducanu aims to assemble a support team after relying on ad-hoc arrangements and LTA staff in recent months.
The 37-year-old Cavaday’s prior coaching stint at the LTA High Performance Centre, where Raducanu trained during her early teens, holds significance in this renewed partnership. Sources hint that Cavaday might undergo a short trial period before a decision is made on accompanying Raducanu to New Zealand for the ASB Classic and subsequently to Melbourne for the Australian Open.
Raducanu, the 2021 US Open victor, has been absent from tournaments this season after a first-round exit at the Stuttgart Open in April. Her absence was due to wrist and ankle surgeries, causing her ranking to drop to World No. 299, a considerable contrast from her peak at World No. 10 in July 2022.
The 2024 season marks Raducanu’s comeback, eagerly anticipated by fans and the tennis world. Her reunion with childhood coach Cavaday hints at a strategic move to regain form and momentum on the tour, beginning with the upcoming ASB Classic in Auckland.
Emma Raducanu in 2023
Now the world no.299, the Brit played her last match on the 18th of April when she surrendered to world no.13 Jelena Ostapenko 6-2 6-1 in the 1st round in Stuttgart (draw).
At present, during this year Emma has managed to achieve a 5-5 record.