‘There were some red flags that just couldn’t be ignored… you just have to have one vote’: Emma Raducanu’s former coach Dmitry Tursunov lifts the lid on why he ended their partnership after just two months
- Coach Tursunov left Raducanu last month at the end of her regular season
- He mentioned some difficult aspects of working for Raducanu and her family
- Russian has since joined Olympic champion and world No 13 Belinda Bencic
Emma RaducanuRecently deceased coach Dmitry Tursunov has broken his silence on why he ran away, citing some ‘red flags’ surrounding the former US Open champion.
The Russian left Raducanu last month at the end of her regular season and has since joined Olympic champion and world champion No. 13 Belinda Bencic.
Tursunov praised Raducanu, who turns 20 next month, on the Tennis Majors website for her potential and attitude.
Coach Dmitry Tursunov left Emma Raducanu at the end of her regular season last month
Tursunov (C) is the fourth coach to leave Raducanu’s employment in the past 15 months
However, he made it clear that a long-term arrangement was needed to bring out the best in her, and this was not done on the right terms.
His comments are unlikely to dispel the impression among coaches that there are difficult aspects to working for Raducanu and her family.
Tursunov said: “We didn’t agree on the terms and there were some red flags that just couldn’t be ignored. Our trial period was over at the US Open, but I stuck around and tried to see if there was a way to impress the team. I really wanted to make it work.’
Tursunov’s comments are unlikely to dispel the impression among coaches that there are difficult aspects to working for Raducanu and her family. Pictured: Raducanu with her father Ian
Tursunov, a former top-30 player, had many good things to say about Raducanu, now 76 in the world, but believes she still needs schooling.
“First, she’s absolutely amazing, a hard worker and doesn’t think or act like a superstar. She is extremely talented, very athletic and very coordinated. She is hungry to improve and is obsessed with tennis.
‘I loved working with her. It was a difficult decision to walk away. She is at least a one year project but I would say she is a two and a half year project. It’s hard for people to understand because she’s already won the US Open.
“But her game is very raw and can be improved a lot in many ways.
“Like I told her and her team, you should only have one vote. Try that. If it doesn’t work, you cross that off your list.’