Emma Raducanu dismisses latest coach after just 14 days – but still wins in Miami

Emma Raducanu, of Great Britain, reacts after winning a point against Sayaka Ishii, of Japan, during the Miami Open tennis tournament, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla — Emma Raducanu made light work of Sayaka Ishii - AP/Lynne Sladky

Emma Raducanu reeled off nine straight games in a facile 6-2, 6-1 victory over an unknown Japanese 19-year-old at the Miami Open on Wednesday, but the real story was her split with coach Vladimir Platenik.

Only 14 days after joining the Raducanu camp, Platenik had been expected to supervise her first-round tie against Sayaka Ishii. A fortnight ago he had arrived in Indian Wells just in time to see her suffer a disappointing defeat by Moyuka Uchijima, but barely had a chance to make any contribution during that event.

Platenik and Raducanu then spent the past week preparing for the Miami Open, only for the partnership to come to a sudden end on Tuesday evening. Having been spotted in deep conversation with Raducanu on Tuesday afternoon, Platenik wound up departing so soon before the match that it was a surprise not to see him courtside.

This latest change has certainly come out of the blue. Few had expected the courtside seats to be filled by childhood mentor Jane O’Donoghue and Lawn Tennis Association coach Colin Beecher, rather than the man she had been training with over the past week.

“Emma and Vlado have parted ways,” said a statement from Raducanu’s management. “Emma has utmost respect for Vlado and the work they started but it wasn’t quite heading in the right direction. Emma is now focused on doing as well as she can here in Miami after her a solid start today and will continue looking for the right coach.”

Ironically, Platenik had told a Slovakian newspaper two weeks ago that while he had once described working with Raducanu as “coaching suicide”, he had since revised his opinion.

Vladimir Platenik watches as Ema Raducanu of Great Britain plays Moyuka Uchijima of Japan during the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 06, 2025 in Indian Wells, California — Vladimir Platenik’s trial period ended abruptly - Getty Images/Matthew Stockman

In that interview with Dennik N, Platenik said that players who enjoy a sudden breakthrough at an early age often suffer a backlash, but added that Raducanu had “already gone through hell, she’s already been through the worst … Today she’s more mature”.

He also admitted that “Of course, I perceive that they [the Raducanu family] change coaches often. However, I want to help Emma, and if both parties recognise that I am successful, I believe that the relationship will last longer”.

An experienced Slovakian coach, Platenik had most recently worked with Lulu Sun, the surprise package of last year’s Wimbledon and the player who took out Raducanu in the fourth round.

In Platenik’s absence, Raducanu relied on support and encouragement from several old allies at courtside. One of them was her childhood mentor O’Donoghue, a former national coach at the Lawn Tennis Association who now works for the Royal Bank of Canada. Sky’s cameras also picked out Mark Petchey – the former British No 1 and leading commentator who had helped Raducanu refine her technique in the summer of 2020, a year before she exploded onto the professional scene.

Meanwhile, the experienced LTA technical guru Beecher sat alongside O’Donoghue. If anyone could be considered Raducanu’s coach for this one tournament, while she continues her search for a permanent appointment, it would be Beecher.

Before Platenik’s arrival, Raducanu had finally found a coaching relationship she was happy with. Between the 2023-24 off-season and the 2025 Australian Open, she had spent a little over a year working alongside another childhood associate in Nick Cavaday. She wanted that spell to continue.

But Cavaday suffers from chronic health issues which forced him off the tour after Australia. It was a particularly demoralising blow as Raducanu had begun this season in a positive frame of mind, having signed the experienced fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura at the end of last year. At last, she felt, she had assembled a strong team around her.

Add in the stalker who harassed her during the recent Middle Eastern swing, and 2025 has presented Raducanu with significant stress since a couple of encouraging early wins at January’s Australian Open. It was notable that she disabled her Instagram profile a week ago, which may have been a reaction to critical comments from the public, even though it has since been reactivated.

In the light of their brief collaboration, Platenik probably cannot be added to the list of six full-time coaches who have worked with Raducanu (namely Nigel Sears, Andrew Richardson, Torben Beltz, Sebastian Sachs and Cavaday). But when you have made more appointments than Henry VIII had wives, something is clearly amiss.

Returning to Wednesday’s match, it did at least provide Raducanu with a nice sighter, allowing her to get the feel of the local conditions. But Ishii, the world No 188, did not look ready to play on the stadium court at an event of this scale.

Sayaka Ishii, of Japan, hits a return to Emma Raducanu, of Great Britain, during the Miami Open tennis tournament, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in Miami Gardens — Sayaka Ishii hit too many unforced errors to challenge Raducanu - AP/Lynne Sladky

Ishii, who had received a wild-card invitation into Miami’s main draw via her management agency IMG, tried to blitz Raducanu with an ultra-aggressive approach but only succeeded in spraying unforced errors in all directions: 12 of them in each set.

“It hasn’t been easy for me coming into this,” said Raducanu after her 65-minute victory, without offering any specifics. “But I think I put out a really good performance. My main objective today was to bring some energy, bring some competitiveness. I think that’s been missing in the last couple of months so I was really proud of that. It’s really nice to win in two sets in less than two-and-a-half hours.”

It was her first win at the Miami Open, after withdrawing last year through injury and losing in the first round to Bianca Andreescu in 2023. In 2022 she came in at the second round as 11th seed but lost to Katerina Siniakova. The standard of opponent will climb dramatically when she faces world No 10 Emma Navarro, a WTA title-winner in Mexico just over a fortnight ago.

05:26 PM GMT

More from Raducanu

“I think I was just so focused on every point and trying to compete. That was my main objective today. It’s nice to win in two sets in less than two and a half hours. I was really pleased to come through that.
“My opponent loves big ball striking and that would not have been the best way to play here. That would not have been the best way to play her. I was happy with how I played the match tactically as well.”

05:24 PM GMT

Match stats

Raducanu
Aces: 6
Double faults: 1
1st serve: 68 per cent
Winners: 16
Unforced errors: 13
Break points won: 5/6
Total points: 54

Ishii
Aces: 0
Double faults: 1
1st serve: 73 per cent
Winners: 8
Unforced errors: 24
Break points won: 1/1
Total points: 30

05:22 PM GMT

Raducanu reacts to a comfortable win

“I’m very pleased to have got through that, it’s not an easy first round, playing someone a bit younger and dangerous and in good form. I am really proud of how I competed today, it hasn’t been easy for me coming into this but I think I put out a really good performance.”

On taking on Emma Navarro in the second round:

“Yeah, it’s going to be an extremely challenging match. I think it’s a match where she is probably in better form. I think I can just go out and try and express myself and compete for every point. She’s a great person on the tour, it’s one of the people that we would like warm to and say hi.”

On playing in Miami:

“It’s really nice. I haven’t won a match here yet in my professional career but I just remember I have great memories from playing junior orange ball and I did really well two times. It’s a little bit different now and I am just so happy to be able to score a win in the professional tournament too.”

05:17 PM GMT

Raducanu beats Ishii 6-2, 6-1!

Frustration from Ishi, who has an easy forehand to get to a break point but she slams it into the net. She has not given Raducanu much of a game today, I am afraid. Another forehand booms long which gives Raducanu match point after just 64 minutes. And she takes it in very fitting style – by Ishii hitting the ball beyond the baseline for what seems like the 78th time this afternoon. Game, set and match for Raducanu, her first victory in Miami.

Emma Raducanu of Great Britain reacts while playing against Sayaka Ishii of Japan in the first round on Day 2 of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on March 19, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida

She was not pushed but she played well enough. Very few areas of concern from that but things will become significantly harder as she progresses.

05:12 PM GMT

Raducanu 6-2, 5-1 Ishii* (*denotes server)

Ishii serving to say in the match and is making a slightly better fist of this one. She pushes Raducanu, though, and Raducanu finds an extra gear to take it to 30-30.

A forehand winner gets Ishii to within a point of her first game for quite a while... and after a couple of deuces she gets it. Some consolation. The match is not over until it is over...

05:04 PM GMT

Raducanu* 6-2, 5-0 Ishii (*denotes server)

Raducanu’s service has been excellent in this match. Five aces so far, though her first double fault of the match as she is 40-0 up on serve. Ishii gets another but Raducanu goes to within one game of what has been a very comfortable match for her.

05:01 PM GMT

Raducanu 6-2, 4-0 Ishii* (*denotes server)

Ishii manages to stay in a point and win it at the start of her service game. Raducanu just sent a forehand slightly long. Trying to stop the rot as much as anything, having lost seven games in a row. A backhand goes long for Raducanu this time which gives Ishii some rare breathing room. Three consecutive errors bring Raducanu a second break point of the set...

Guess how Raducanu takes the game? Yes, another Ishii error, though Raducanu deserves some credit for it.

04:55 PM GMT

Raducanu* 6-2, 3-0 Ishii (*denotes server)

Raducanu is punishing Ishii now. A simple service game to love. You feel this match could be done and dusted within an hour of total playing time.

Emma Raducanu, of Great Britain, hits a return to Sayaka Ishii, of Japan, during the Miami Open tennis tournament, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla

04:52 PM GMT

Raducanu 6-2, 2-0 Ishii* (*denotes server)

Further errors give Raducanu another break point and Ishii responds by sending her first serve about a couple of feet wide. Raducanu punishes a fairly tame second serve with a booming forehand winner down the line. Ishii in all sorts of trouble here, but a lot of that is coming from Raducanu’s play. A lot is also coming from her own errors.

04:49 PM GMT

Raducanu* 6-2, 1-0 Ishii (*denotes server)

A blink-and-you’ll-miss-it service game first up in the second set from ER. Ishii does not get a point and this match feels like it is going in one direction only. The encoraching shadow at the Miami Hard Rock Stadium is about to split the court exactly in half which feels very satisfying.

04:47 PM GMT

Raducanu growing into the games

Raducanu grew into her game in that set, starting out tentatively but introducing a bit more punch into the rallies as time wore on. This was a comfortable way to begin the tournament: 12 unforced errors from Ishii is way too many.

Emma Raducanu, of Great Britain, serves to Sayaka Ishii, of Japan, during the Miami Open tennis tournament, Wednesday, March 19, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla

04:44 PM GMT

12 unforced errors from Ishii in that set

Just six from Raducanu, who hit three aces and nine winners.

04:42 PM GMT

Raducanu wins first set 6-2

A rare long rally is all set of for Ishii to take the point with a backhand drop shot but she fails to clear the net.. Raducanu did well to stay in the point and it worked out. 30-30 after Raducanu shovels a backhand wide. Not sure if the performance or the result is the most important thing for Raducanu here. Well, the result I guess, but how important is the performance?

A better, low backhand sets up break and set point for the Briton. Another long forehand from Ishii gives Raducanu the first set.

04:37 PM GMT

Set 1: Raducanu* 5-2 Ishii (*denotes server)

All a little too easy for Raducanu and the gulf in class (128 places between them in the rankings) is starting to show as she holds solidly to go within a game of the first set.

Not the most satisfying watch so far. The match is on Ishii’s racket as she winds up for these piledriving groundstrokes which tend to land very deep or not at all. Raducanu doing a steady job nevertheless, especially with her serve. I suspect that she and Platenik have spent a lot of time working on it in the past fortnight, and there’s a marked improvement on the second serve in particular.

04:34 PM GMT

Set 1: Raducanu 4-2 Ishii* (*denotes server)

The unforced errors creep back in for Ishii and Raducanu breaks to love to go 4-2 up. Ishii just seems unable to control her forehand and it is costing her. Not a very high-intensity contest so far, this one.

04:31 PM GMT

A new dawn or a false one?

There’ve been many new dawns – and false dawns – since Raducanu won the US Open. This is the latest: her first proper match with new coach Vlado Platenik, who was present in Indian Wells but had no chance to make a proper contribution. She’s been training in Miami ever since, and even turned off her Instagram for a few days! The opponent today is inexperienced but has a big, heavy forehand which could be the key. Will it hammer down Raducanu’s defences or cough up errors?

04:29 PM GMT

Set 1: Raducanu* 3-2 Ishii (*denotes server)

Raducanu slamming in some fine serves here, which is good to see. It has been a problem for her in the past. Ishii is not going away, though, and gets to 30-40 with a handy return right on the baseline that Raducanu cannot deal with. No worries, though, because the Briton puts in a wide, clean ace to go 3-2 up. She follows that with a big roar.

04:26 PM GMT

Set 1: Raducanu 2-2 Ishii* (*denotes server)

Fair to say that Ishii has settled into this game now. Has cut out the errors a little it and is now forcing Raducanu to do more, which was not the case early on. Not exactly a roaring crowd there at the moment. Still quite early in Miami, though. She holds her serve with Raducanu on 30 points.

04:21 PM GMT

Set 1: Raducanu* 2-1 Ishii (*denotes server)

Well, problems for Raducanu as her errors put her 0-40 down on her serve. Ishii then takes advantage by moving to the net and dinking the ball over the net with Raducanu at the baseline. A break to love and we are back on serve.

04:18 PM GMT

Set 1: Raducanu 2-0 Ishii* (*denotes server)

Fair to say that Ishii has not quite settled into this game yet, though we are but a few points in. Still, a nervy start and without much precision and a fair few hits beyond the baseline. Things get a little better but Raducanu snatches an early break point which she must fancy herself for. Nope. A big forehand from Ishii sees of the threat initially.

The Briton does not have to wait that long, though, as two errors from her opponent give her a 2-0 lead with the break.

04:13 PM GMT

Set 1: Raducanu* 1-0 Ishii (*denotes server)

Raducanu loses the first point as she backhands into the net but then reels off four in a row to take a comfortable first game.

04:10 PM GMT

Raducanu to serve first...

Ready, play!

04:05 PM GMT

Here we go...

We have the usual on-court spiel (“you must answer as soon as you buzz” etc) from the chair umpire but we are nearly ready to go.

04:01 PM GMT

Raducanu’s Miami Open history

2022 - First round
2023 - Second round
2024 - DNP

03:51 PM GMT

When is Raducanu due on court?

Roughly 4pm, though it may be a little bit after that...

03:51 PM GMT

Raducanu on Draper’s Indian Wells title

"I know how much work he's put in, how much he deserves it." 🏆

Emma Raducanu said she's so happy for Jack Draper to win his first Masters title 👏 pic.twitter.com/To0xUte1SN
— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) March 19, 2025

03:36 PM GMT

Sayaka Ishii’s recent results

These are all ITF W75 events, so below the main WTA and WTA Challenger events, as well as below the W100 tournaments in the ITF Women’s World Tennis Tour. In those she reached the semi-finals of the ITF W75 event in Brisbane and the same in the second Trnava tournament.

February

5 - Beat Ma 2-6, 6-4, 63
6 - Beat Guo 6-7, 7-5, 6-4
7 - Lost to Inglis 6-4, 7-6
26 - Lost to Seidel 6-2, 7-6

March

4 - Beat Fett 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
6 - Beat Rosatello 6-3, 6-4
7 - Beat Jamrichova 6-3, 6-4
8 - Lost to Ryser 6-3, 7-3

03:13 PM GMT

Raducanu speaks about adapting to conditions

“I’ve struggled in Indian Wells, it was very windy the day I played and very jumpy. It was just like I found it hard to hit clean. So I’ve been just here trying to get used to the conditions, it has had some windy days but I guess I’ve been practising in the wind a bit more. The balls do get really fluffy here so it’s very different when they’re new compared to when they’re a bit used.
“A lot of the players have to deal with the same thing. Certain periods of the year suit better than others. It depends on game style, it depends on what kind of conditions you prefer. It’s hard. Especially with the balls, for wrists and shoulders. I think a lot of players are getting those niggles. For now there’s not a lot we can do about it.”

03:03 PM GMT

Raducanu’s recent results

February

4 - Lost to Vondrousova 6-3, 6-4
9 - Lost to Alexandrova 6-3, 7-5
16 - Beat Sakkari 6-4, 6-2
18 - Lost to Muchova 7-6, 6-4

March

6 - Lost to Uchijima 6-3, 6-2

02:43 PM GMT

Good afternoon

Welcome to our live coverage of Emma Raducanu against Sayaka Ishii in the first round of the Miami Open. The 2021 US Open winner is looking to kickstart her season. It is fair to say that it has not been the most encouraging so far, though there have been a few bright points.

In fact, you could make an argument that she is looking to kickstart her career since that astonishing victory more than three years ago. In fairness she has been plagued by numerous issues mostly related to injury and has also rattled through a fair few coaches in that time, too.

Since her run to the third round at the Australian Open – where she was dumped out 6-1, 6-0 by Iga Swiatek – she has won just once from six matches. That was a promising victory against former top-10 player Maria Sakkari in Dubai, but that is as about as good as it has been. Indian Wells lasted just one round, a 6-3, 6-2 defeat to Moyuka Uchijima, who is ranked 53 in the world.

Today’s match should be an easier prospect, though things do not always work out that way in sport, especially in women’s tennis. Raducanu’s opponent is ranked 188th (128 places below the Briton) in the world and has little experience of the game at the very highest level. She is only a teenager, though.

What do the bookies say? Well, Raducanu is 2/9 on for this with Ishii at 10/3. That tells you everything you need to know.

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