Emma Raducanu has suggested that her succession of coaches have hindered rather than helped her game, revealing that her natural playing style has been "coached out" of her.
The British No 1, preparing for Indian Wells in California, has said she's now focused on reconnecting with her instincts after years of conflicting guidance.
"I have had a lot of people telling me what to do, how to play, and it hasn't necessarily fit," the 2021 US Open champion told the BBC.
"So I want to come back to my natural way of playing. That takes time to relearn because that's something that has been coached out of me a little bit."
Raducanu's collaboration with Spanish coach Francisco Roig concluded following January's Australian Open due to differences over how she should approach her game.
Roig became the seventh full-time coach the 22-year-old has worked with since her breakthrough Grand Slam triumph.
The world No 24 expressed hesitation about appointing another permanent coach, citing the intense media attention any new appointment would attract.
Emma Raducanu has suggested that her succession of coaches have hindered rather than helped her game, revealing that her natural playing style has been "coached out" of her
|GETTY
"I don't necessarily want to have one coach in the role because anyone I bring in is straight away going to be scrutinised - even if it's a trial," she explained.
"I might feel the pressure to stick with them, even if it's not necessarily the right decision."
She added that she would prefer not to work with someone who dictates tactics she fundamentally disagrees with.
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Five facts for tennis fans | GETTY/PARather than committing to a single coach, Raducanu is instead drawing on multiple advisors, with Mark Petchey at the forefront of that approach.
Petchey, who guided Andy Murray during the early stages of his career, has been working with Raducanu on a day-to-day basis at Indian Wells, where his role as a Tennis Channel commentator already brings him.
The arrangement mirrors the informal collaboration they had last spring, when Raducanu reached the Miami quarter-finals and the fourth round in Rome.
"I work really well when I'm with him," Raducanu said. "I'm really happy to be on the court and just really enjoy it overall."
She noted that she had sought Petchey's assistance after feeling uneasy about her game, and has observed progress in recent days.
Raducanu will begin her Indian Wells campaign on Friday against qualifier Anastasia Zakharova in the second round, having received a first-round bye.
Mark Petchey is back working with Emma Raducanu
| GETTYThe British player arrives in California having endured a difficult stretch, failing to win a match at either Doha or Dubai while battling a chest infection.
She has now fully recovered and used the past week to acclimatise to the desert conditions, including the thin air and intense sunshine.
Alexis Canter, who has limited coaching experience, continues to support Raducanu and was alongside her as a hitting partner during successful runs in Washington and Cluj.
Raducanu believes trusting her natural instincts offers the clearest path to improving her ranking.