Emma Raducanu outlines key factor in striking up Francis Roig relationship

Emma Raducanu says she is 'excited' to begin working with Rafael Nadal's former coach. Francis Roig has been added to the British star's full-time team ahead of her return to the scene of her greatest triumph.

Just weeks before the US Open begins, Raducanu has finally added a full-time coach after working with Mark Petchey on an informal, part-time basis since March. Roig joins her team, which also includes her influential fitness coach Yutaka Nakamura, having enjoyed huge success with Nadal. Alongside the the tennis icon's uncle Toni, Roig worked with Nadal from 2005 to 2022 and was present for each of his 22 Grand Slam titles. Raducanu knows that tapping into his experience will be crucial if the 22-year-old is to return to the top of the game.

"He's obviously got a bank of experience and I'm very excited to continue working with him and to have him on my side," Raducanu told Sky Sports as she prepares to play in the Cincinnati Masters.

"It's going really well. It's my second day with [Roig] here, but I did a few days in London before I came out here."

Raducanu has enjoyed an impressive climb up the world rankings this year and remains in with a chance of landing a seeded berth at the US Open. She is 33rd in the world, a place outside the top 32 - the position she needs to be to have a stronger chance of a more favourable draw at Flushing Meadows.

Having impressed at Wimbledon and only fallen just short to world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, Raducanu has a strong idea of what she must improve to return to the world's top 10. Roig will be working on the quality of her shots to ensure she is ready to regularly defeat the best players.

Raducanu added: "I'm working on the quality of my shots to be better. I think against the very top, that's what it needs, it needs to improve. So I'm hoping with time, I'm pretty patient, I'm going to try and be pretty patient, that it will improve."

Meanwhile, Raducanu has received a bye to the second round of the Cincinnati Masters due to her ranking. She has been handed a tough draw that will see her face either Olga Danilovic or fellow Briton Katie Boulter in her opening match. Sabalenka, her Wimbledon nemesis, awaits in the third round.

The British No. 1 will then head to the US Open, fours years on from her epic success in New York. Injuries and inconsistency have plagued Raducanu in the intervening period but she is now making a strong comeback. Roig's appointment could be the full-time coach she needs to lift her next trophy.