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Emma Raducanu found herself in the spotlight for reasons beyond her tennis skills during her Cincinnati Open showdown with world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. The 22-year-old Brit, along with her new coach Francisco Roig, was warned by the chair umpire for breaching on-court communication rules in a heated encounter that echoed their Wimbledon battle earlier this summer.
A fiery start to the Aryna Sabalenka rematch
Raducanu’s meeting with Sabalenka was already loaded with tension, given their Wimbledon third-round clash in which Aryna Sabalenka came from a break down in both sets to win 7-6, 6-4. In Cincinnati, both players traded early breaks twice, with neither willing to give an inch.
At 4-4 in the opening set, Raducanu saved two break points in a crucial service game. Throughout the contest, Roig — who previously worked alongside Rafael Nadal — was highly vocal, offering frequent shouts of advice and encouragement.
The controversial moment
The turning point came when Emma Raducanu held serve to lead 5-4. Instead of heading directly to her chair, she walked toward the corner of the court to exchange words with Roig, who had also stepped closer to communicate. The umpire swiftly intervened.
“She’s even going over for some advice before heading to her chair. Huge amount of dialogue at the moment, and the umpire has just called her away, can’t do that,” Sky Sports commentator Adam Fielder observed.
Once seated, Raducanu wrapped an ice towel around her neck as the oppressive Cincinnati heat took its toll. The chair umpire then issued a clear reminder:
“Emma, you cannot actively approach him and he cannot leave his position. You know that. You cannot have a conversation.”
Emma Raducanu responded, “I can’t hear anything because the music is really loud,” but the official stood firm.
“Then he needs to speak louder but you cannot actively approach him, he cannot leave the position, he needs to stay where he is and you cannot actively go towards him. You cannot actively go at the end of a game especially.”
The British star quickly apologised, saying: “Okay, sorry, I didn’t know that. Can you tell someone to tell him? I can’t say it like now.”
Heat, pressure, and high stakes
With temperatures soaring and the heat rule in effect, emotions ran high on both sides of the net. The match itself remained fiercely competitive, with both players refusing to yield under pressure. However, the mid-match reprimand became one of the talking points of the day, highlighting the fine line players walk when it comes to on-court coaching rules.
Emma Raducanu’s partnership with Roig is still in its infancy following a successful post-Wimbledon trial, but this incident shows the adjustment period is far from over. Whether the pair can channel their communication into a winning formula without skirting regulations will be a storyline to watch in the months ahead.
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