John McEnroe has backed Emma Raducanu’s decision to rehire Andrew Richardson after dismissing their initial split as “pointless”.
Richardson was Raducanu’s coach when she stunningly became the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam title at the 2021 US Open.
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But the British number one then immediately opted to relinquish his services as she felt she needed someone with experience on the WTA Tour.
A series of short-term appointments followed, but Raducanu has now decided to return to Richardson, whom she also worked with during her junior year, and the two began working together ahead of this week’s game in Strasbourg.
Former world number one McEnroe, who will be speaking on TNT Sports’ coverage of the French Open, said: “I was surprised she got away from her coach in the first place.
“I thought: ‘Why would you fire your coach a few weeks or a month after winning the U.S. Open?’ I never understood that.
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“I was surprised because athletes are very superstitious and you don’t change the formula for winning. You start from scratch and you win this U.S. Open the way she did, and to me, doing what she did is ridiculous.”
Emma Raducanu wins 2021 US Open coached by Andrew Richardson (PA Media)
Raducanu’s attempts to rekindle those heady days in New York were hampered by a series of physical issues, the latest of which was a post-viral illness that kept her out of action for two-and-a-half months.
Defeat by France’s Diane Parry in her opening match in Strasbourg means she will play just one clay-court match heading into the French Open, which starts on Sunday. She will also be unseeded in Thursday’s draw after slipping to No. 37 in the rankings.
She has now resumed contact with Richardson (Getty Images)
McEnroe would be surprised to see how impressive she was in Paris but believes a reunion with Richardson could bear fruit at Wimbledon.
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“For me, grass is obviously a more comfortable opportunity for her against the top players,” the American said. “I don’t think she’s that comfortable on clay. I think that’s the surface she’s most uncomfortable with.
“Is it too little, too late? She’s still young. I don’t know her physical and mental condition – there are a lot of issues I’m not familiar with yet.”
“But I certainly think hopefully having her, even though she’s under more pressure at Wimbledon, she’ll have a better chance of doing big things there.”
