Emma Raducanu has reunited with the coach who guided her to one of the most remarkable triumphs in tennis history, with Andrew Richardson returning to her team ahead of the French Open.
The British No 1 will begin working with Richardson immediately, with the pair set to link up in Strasbourg when Raducanu returns to action next week.
The 23-year-old has accepted a wildcard into the Strasbourg International as she steps up her preparations for Roland Garros after a lengthy absence caused by illness.
Richardson is best known for overseeing Raducanu's stunning run to the US Open title in 2021, when she became the first qualifier in history to win a Grand Slam singles crown.
The decision to part ways shortly after that success attracted widespread criticism at the time, with Raducanu explaining that she felt she needed a coach with more experience on the WTA Tour.
Nearly five years later, and after working with several different coaches, she has turned back to a trusted figure who has known her since her early teenage years.
Emma Raducanu has reunited with the coach who guided her to one of the most remarkable triumphs in tennis history, with Andrew Richardson returning to her team ahead of the French Open
|GETTY
"Grateful to have reconnected with someone who has known me for over a decade now and looking forward to building together one iteration at a time," Raducanu said.
The move continues a clear trend in Raducanu's coaching choices, with the former US Open champion placing increasing importance on familiarity and trust.
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Five facts for tennis fans | GETTY/PARichardson follows Nick Cavaday and Mark Petchey, both of whom also worked with Raducanu earlier in her development.
She has additionally leaned on former coach Jane O'Donoghue for support and guidance.
Speculation over a reunion intensified last month when Raducanu spent a week training with Richardson at the Ferrer Tennis Academy in Spain.
At the time, she played down suggestions that the arrangement would become permanent.
Emma Raducanu has struggled with consistency ever since winning the US Open in 2021 | PARaducanu has not competed since March after battling a virus that disrupted her season.
The illness affected her during tournaments in the Middle East and at Indian Wells Open, prompting her to withdraw from events in Miami, Linz, Madrid and Rome.
Despite the setbacks, she showed encouraging form earlier in the year by reaching her first final since her New York breakthrough at the Transylvania Open in Romania.
Her ranking is projected to fall to around No 37 in the world next week, meaning she is likely to miss out on a seeded position at the French Open.