Emma Raducanu hires Vlado Platenik for Indian Wells trial

Emma Raducanu has appointed Slovak coach Vlado Platenik on a trial basis as she prepares for the WTA 1000 event in Indian Wells. This marks her seventh coaching change since turning professional, following her split with Nick Cavaday earlier this year due to health issues. Platenik, who has previously coached notable players like Daria Kasatkina and Dominika Cibulkova, is viewed as a serious candidate for a more permanent role, especially since Raducanu has had a challenging few months, losing four of her last five matches. Notably, Raducanu had previously worked with Platenik during her junior years, which may bode well for their collaboration. The world No. 55 is hopeful that this new partnership, alongside her fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura, will help turn her performance around as she faces Japan's Moyuka Uchijima in her first match. Raducanu's ongoing search for a stable coaching relationship highlights her critical approach to mentorship, having cycled through multiple coaches in recent years.