Emma Raducanu blasted her way past Belgium’s Greet Minnen at the Transylvania Open in her first match since splitting from coach Francisco Roig.
The 23-year-old, who hired Roig — Rafael Nadal’s former coach — last summer, had said she would “re-evaluate” her game following her second-round exit at the Australian Open. Raducanu, who has struggled to find stability in her team since her breakthrough at the 2021 US Open, was joined in Romania by former British professional Alexis Canter as her coach and looked relaxed in an impressive display, swatting aside Minnen 6-0 6-4 on Monday.
Raducanu, who prematurely ended her 2025 season because of injury and illness, made a slow start to 2026 by losing her only match at the United Cup before suffering a quarter-final exit at the Hobart International. At the Australian Open she defeated Thai qualifier Mananchaya Sawangkaew in the opening round before losing to Anastasia Potapova in the second.
Back in Cluj-Napoca five years since her last appearance, Raducanu — the top seed — won the opening set 6-0 in just 25 minutes. She broke in the third game of the second set as the Belgian mounted more of a fight, but the British No 1 eased through to set up a clash with Slovenian world No 97 Kaja Juvan on Wednesday.
“Very happy today. I think I played a great match from the beginning. I was super aggressive and the crowd from the minute I walked out was incredible,” said the world No 30 in front of former Wimbledon champion Simona Halep, who is an honorary ambassador of the tournament. “I think today was a great performance. I wanted to put my game out on the court and it’s a little bit easier indoors so I’m really pleased I could kind of use that. I played a really tricky opponent in Greet, who really starts the point well, so I knew I had to do the same and pleased that I stayed with it.”
Raducanu addressed the crowd in Romanian after the match. Following the tournament in Romania she will head to the Middle East for the WTA 1000 tournaments in Doha (February 8-14) and Dubai (February 16-22) — both live on Sky Sports — before competing at Indian Wells and the Miami Open in March.
“Finding the right balance is hard”
Sky Sports commentator Jonathan Overend reflected on Raducanu’s post-Australian Open period: “I think she has spent a lot of her young career re-evaluating. In one regard, it explains why she has been through so many coaches and why she has been criticised for it. It’s typical of Raducanu that she wants to keep re-evaluating and finding out what is best for her on and around a tennis court. That challenge continues, and to some extent it is a struggle, because finding the right balance is so hard, but I think she is slowly getting [it], not in terms of her Grand Slam results but in terms of that re-evaluation process. What is it she really wants for herself on a tennis court and in tournaments?”
Emma Raducanu’s nine coaches
Nigel Sears
Best known for coaching Amanda Coetzer, Daniela Hantuchova, Anett Kontaveit and Ana Ivanovic, Sears joined her team in April 2021 and oversaw her breakthrough to the Wimbledon fourth round.
Andrew Richardson
Guided Raducanu to her historic US Open title as a qualifier. Raducanu did not immediately extend his trial contract after the victory.
Torben Beltz
Angelique Kerber’s former coach lasted five months; they split in April 2022 as Raducanu moved toward a training model involving LTA support.
Dmitry Tursunov
Taken on a trial basis in summer 2022 but Tursunov chose not to continue, later citing red flags in her camp.
Sebastian Sachs
The German joined in late 2022 but the partnership ended when Raducanu required multiple surgeries.
Nick Cavaday
A 14-month stint — her longest professional partnership — helping her return to the top 60 before he stepped down in early 2025 due to personal health issues.
Vlado Platenik
Hired on a trial basis in March 2025; the partnership lasted 14 days.
Mark Petchey
Provided tactical guidance through Wimbledon where she lost to world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka despite an encouraging display.
Francisco Roig
Appointed in August 2025, Nadal’s former mentor offered elite tactical clarity, but after her Australian Open exit in January 2026 Raducanu announced their split.
Kartal continues brilliant week in Abu Dhabi
Sonay Kartal booked her place in the Abu Dhabi Open round of 16 with a 6-3 7-6 (10-8) victory over Cristina Bucsa. Kartal, who had come through two qualifying rounds, had been up 5-2 in the second set before Bucsa fought back to force a tiebreak. The Briton next faces Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic, the top seed.