"You can't keep changing coaches every 4 or 5 months" - Barry Cowan on Emma Raducanu parting ways with Torben Beltz
British teenager Emma Raducanu has parted ways with her coach Torben Beltz just five months after the two decided to work together.
The 19-year-old, who lost to eventual winner Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals of the Suttgart Open, has now changed coaches thrice in under a year.
With the Madrid Open round the corner, the 2021 US Open champion will, for now, be coached by Iain Bates, the Lawn Tennis Association's head of women's coaching.
Former British tennis player Barry Cowan has questioned the youngster's decision, pointing out that she needs some consistency in her corner.
"It was probably a question of when. Jokingly, she started to do better so maybe a new coach is required," Cowan told Sky Sports. “That’s kind of been the theme with Emma since Wimbledon. I think it’s a worry. I have consistently said that what I’ve felt Emma needs is someone in her corner consistently. She is not able to have that."
The 47-year-old said that it would be interesting to see who the Brit works with going forward.
“Moving forward it will be interesting to see who she works with. At this stage of any player’s career they are the most important years and the years when you need a consistent voice off the court and also on the court. Emma is not going to have that at the moment because she is looking for a new coach.”
Cowan opined that whoever coaches Raducanu will need to be with her for a long while.
"Most importantly, whoever she hires next this really does need to be someone who is with her for a long period of time because you can’t keep changing coach."
“You can maybe get away with it once or twice but you can’t keep changing coaches every four or five months and think long term that’s going to be a benefit.”
Emma Raducanu finding her feet on clay
Emma Raducanu's quarter-final loss to Iga Swiatek at the Stuttgart Open wasn't such a bad result considering the Brit was making her WTA tour debut on clay.
Coming into the tournament, Raducanu emphasized that she was excited to compete in Stuttgart because she had little experience playing on claycourt.
"I have little experience as there aren’t really any clay courts in the UK. This clay season with the French Open as the highlight will be an interesting challenge, but one I am looking forward to."
The 19-year-old held her own against World No. 1 Iga Swiatek, who has been in impeccable form recently.
Prior to the Stuttgart Open, Emma Raducanu represented Great Britain at the Billie Jean King Cup. The teenager did well to get past Tereza Martincova of the Czech Republic in Prague.
Martincova is an experienced claycourter and a win against her would no doubt have boosted the Brit's confidence. The two players will meet again in their opening match of the Madrid Open.