28 June 2023 , 20:06
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John McEnroe has asked questions about Rick Macci's tendency to travel amid claims from the tennis coach that he wants to work with Emma Raducanu.
Raducanu, who won the US Open as a teenager in 2021, split with coach Sebastian Sachs earlier this year. The former British number one, who is currently working her way back from the injury problems keeping her out of Wimbledon, said it was "unfeasible" to continue her working relationship with the German.
Veteran American coach Macci, who counts Venus and Serena Williams among those he has coached through the years, has spoken of a keenness to take Raducanu under his wing. However, compatriot McEnroe has questions about the potential partnership while querying the timeline based on the English player's rehab following surgery.
"I don’t know Rick Macci but I know of him through working with the Williams sisters, Jennifer Capriati and a bunch of players," McEnroe told Metro, saying a link-up between the pair would be "interesting". "He obviously has the respect of a lot of people, and I could be wrong, but I’ve not heard of him being much of a travelling coach.
"I’m sure if the price was right, maybe he would and maybe he would like to show that he could do it with Emma. I really don’t know and obviously that could be sixth months down the line.
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"This was long ago, but some of the older greats would take six months off to work on their game. They had that luxury. Emma’s under a lot more pressure, I assume, from sponsors and her ranking to get back soon."
Who should Emma Raducanu choose as her next coach? Have your say in the comments section
Emma Raducanu is set to miss Wimbledon through injury (Getty Images)Since her US Open success, Raducanu has failed to get beyond the second round of a Grand Slam tournament. She will return from injury looking to build under a new coach, with hand and ankle surgeries keeping her out of Wimbedon and the US Open in 2023.
“I have really enjoyed Seb’s coaching and working with him, it’s unfortunate that circumstances made it unfeasible for both of us to continue right now and we have decided to part ways," the star wrote on social media after the Sachs decision. "I wish Seb all the best moving forwards.”
Macci, who has worked with Jennifer Capriati and Maria Sharapova in addition to the Williams sisters, backed Raducanu to bounce back. "I believe that she can come back and be one of the best players in the world and win Grand Slams," he said in May."
"This thing can flip around. I don’t know who’s involved with her. I know they’ve shuffled the deck.
"How much of it is her, the people around her… but I’d love that opportunity. I’ve never met her – I would love to work with this young lady. I could help her mentally. I know I could get this girl back on track."