'A little bit lost' but 'still scratching the surface' - What's next for Emma Raducanu and coach Francisco Roig after Australian Open exit?

British No. 1 Emma Raducanu said she plans to "re-evaluate" her game following her second-round exit at the 2026 Australian Open. TNT Sports experts Laura Robson, Jamie Murray and Tim Henman have assessed what's next for Raducanu and whether she will continue to work with coach Francisco Roig. Raducanu is next set to play at the Transylvania Open in Cluj, starting on February 1.

Laura Robson questioned whether another coaching change could be in the air for Emma Raducanu after she looked a "little bit lost" with her approach at the Australian Open.

British No. 1 Raducanu was beaten in straight sets in the second round by world No. 55 Anastasia Potapova.

She said afterwards that she plans to "re-evaluate" her game and wants to "play a different way".

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"I think the misalignment with how I'm playing right now and how I want to be playing is something that I just want to work on," said Raducanu.

Raducanu has been working with Francisco Roig, former long-time coach of Rafael Nadal, since last summer.

But she has not been hesitant to change coaches during her career and could her suggestion of a different approach lead to another switch?

"It was a bit of an up-and-down couple of weeks," said TNT Sports expert Robson.

'Underwhelming' - Henman expected 'a little bit more' from Brits in Melbourne

Video credit: TNT Sports

"She came in not physically 100% but we saw flashes of really good tennis.

"From the side, it seemed like they were really getting on and she was enjoying her time with Francisco, but speaking in press afterwards, maybe she sounded a little bit lost with what game she was looking to play out there."

TNT Sports expert Jamie Murray added: "The coach came under a bit of scrutiny. I have no idea what the relationship is or what they are working on or how he sees her game style, but she seems to see it in a different way. 

• Raducanu wants to 're-evaluate' after Australian Open exit
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"Ultimately, it’s the player deciding how they should play. If they are not on the same wavelength, then it’s probably not going to last too long. I am interested to see what happens in the next few months."

Raducanu’s 2026 season did not start on the best note as she battled a foot injury and then faced a quick turnaround on arrival in Melbourne after a delayed flight.

Injury issues have been a problem for Raducanu since her US Open win in 2021 and TNT Sports expert Tim Henman thinks she needs to continue to build resilience.

"At the end of last year, she struggled with some injuries and had an issue with her foot," said Henman.

'I want to play a different way' - Raducanu reacts after shock Australian Open exit

Video credit: SNTV

"Coming into the United Cup that I was a part of as captain, she was still building up her fitness and she played a match there.

"To get a couple of matches in Hobart and here, I never think her tennis level is in doubt.

"It’s much more about the physical resilience and being able to compete week in, week out with the best players in the world, and to get fitter, stronger, faster, so she can compete against the biggest hitters. 

"For me, if I could add one element to her game, it wouldn’t be technical or mental, it would be physical.

"When she has time off and has some practice she is in good shape, but it’s not just about a week or two weeks, it’s about six, seven months of continuous play to build up momentum on the match court. 

Highlights: Raducanu exits Australian Open with shock loss to Potapova

Video credit: TNT Sports

"That’s hopefully what she can build up to because you reflect on her ranking at No. 29 and I still think she is scratching the surface. If she can build that consistency and continuity, then for sure she can be in the top 20 in the future."

Raducanu is next set to play at the WTA 250 Transylvania Open in Cluj, starting on February 1.

She could face a rematch with Potapova, who is the defending champion at the tournament.

From Cluj, Raducanu could head to the Middle East for back-to-back WTA 1000 events in Doha and Dubai.

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