Emma Raducanu is searching for another coach after Nick Cavaday ended their partnership because of health issues. Raducanu first worked with Cavaday as a child and they resumed the relationship ahead of last season, where the 22-year-old returned to the top 100 following operations on both wrists and one ankle.
Raducanu spoke frequently about how positive the partnership had been and that she hoped it would be a long-term arrangement but it has now come to an end after 14 months. Their last tournament together was at the Australian Open, where Raducanu reached the third round, and the British No 2 said: “I’d like to thank Nick for a great partnership over the last year and a bit. Especially being post-surgeries, he helped get me back inside the world’s top 60. I wish him all the best in his next chapter and no doubt we’ll stay in touch.”
Raducanu has been criticised in the past for chopping and changing coaches regularly, and in particular the decision not to stick with Andrew Richardson after he guided her to the US Open title in 2021. But this time the split is not from her side, and comes at a frustrating time after she appeared to have a solid team around her following the hiring of fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura.
Cavaday said: “I am very happy to have been able to work with Emma over the last 14 months. At this moment in time, it’s important for me to spend some more time at home and prioritise getting back to full health, which is hard to do with the extensive calendar. I am glad Emma is back to being established on tour now with a ranking inside the top 60, and I look forward to seeing what she does from here.”
Raducanu has headed with Nakamura from Melbourne to Singapore, where she will play in the WTA Tour event next week, and she is understood not to be in a rush to find a replacement.
Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid, meanwhile, won their sixth consecutive men’s wheelchair doubles title at the Australian Open. The British pair have now claimed 17 of the past 20 grand slam titles in the format and 22 together overall, while they also clinched a first Paralympic gold together last summer.
They were straight-sets winners in the final in Melbourne, beating Spain’s Daniel Caverzaschi and Stephane Houdet of France 6-2, 6-4.
Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid celebrate winning the men’s wheelchair final at the Australian Open. Photograph: Ella Ling/Shutterstock
Reid said: “I think the key thing is just never resting on where we are and never being happy with our level, our performance, and always trying to improve. No matter which title we’ve won or which number it is, we always go back and review it and see where we can improve and get better.”
Andy Lapthorne claimed his eighth title in the quad wheelchair doubles, partnering Dutchman Sam Schroder to a 6-1, 6-4 victory over top seeds Niels Vink and Guy Sasson.
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