Emma Raducanu’s dad shows true colours over tennis star’s coaching dilemma

Emma Raducanu’s erstwhile coach Vladimir Platenik has opened up about his brief association with the British tennis star and provided an intriguing look at her relationship with her father. Platenik teamed up with Raducanu for a mere 10 days in the United States earlier this year before their partnership dissolved just ahead of the Miami Open.  At the time, Platenik suggested that Raducanu was “under a lot of pressure” and “stressed”, notably after her previous coach Nick Cavaday left due to health concerns. She has since re-joined forces with Mark Petchey, who is set to coach the UK’s No.2 through the French Open and Wimbledon.

The 49-year-old Slovak disclosed his astonishment at how Raducanu’s father, Ian, interacted with him during their short stint.  “I was really happy, because I never heard a father thank me so many times that he thanked me after the practices,” Platenik divulged on the ‘Diary of a Professional Tennis Coach’ podcast.  “He was like, ‘Wow, you are doing everything what I wish a coach would do with my daughter, and she was improving’.  “He had conversations with me, and as I mentioned, it’s understandable, and I aim to educate the parents. I wish to inform them about my coaching methods with their children because it’s important they feel secure knowing they can trust me with their kid,” he expressed.

He revealed that Raducanu’s father was taken aback when she decided to end their coaching relationship, yet they parted on good terms, with him expressing nothing but hope for her future success.  “So, and he was as surprised as me, you know, when Emma stopped the cooperation. But I told him, it’s okay, Ian, it’s fine, you know, don’t worry,” Platenik shared.  “So, I was actually very good with Ian. And like I said, Emma was just little bit stressed, so and I told him: ‘I don’t blame you. I don’t blame her. It’s just too much pressure’. And she was not doing well for such a long time, since US Open. And probably she wants to win another grand slam, and she wants to prove [to] everybody that she can do it.

“Which is a bad motivation, because, like I said, if you want to prove people that you can do something, it’s most of the time you will not succeed. You know, it has to be you. You have to do it for yourself.”  Platenik didn’t close the door on a potential reunion, assuring her father there were “absolutely no bad feelings”, despite Raducanu moving on to another unconventional coaching arrangement.  At the French Open, Petchey will balance his coaching responsibilities with his commentary role for TNT Sports.