Emma Raducanu forced to apologise after being given warning for breaking little-known rule

Even with all his experience, Emma Raducanu’s legendary new coach got her a telling off during her defeat to Aryna Sabalenka at Cincinnati.

Francis Roig, who helped Rafael Nadal to his 22 Grand Slams, was coaching the British No.1 during a match for only the second time, but overstepped the mark.

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Raducanu was taking on world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in the third round, and Roig certainly made an impression as he chatted to her throughout the match.

Yet one moment resulted in a warning for Raducanu as both player and coach left their posts to talk through a point at the corner of the court.

The 2021 US Open winner could be heard saying, ‘help me understand’ to Roig, only for the match umpire Miriam Bley to interrupt, shouting out: “Emma, Emma!”

Once back at her seat, she was told: “Emma, you can’t actively approach him and he can’t leave his position, you know that? You cannot have a conversation.”

The 22-year-old talent replied: “I can’t hear anything because the music is really loud.”

Raducanu was then told by Bley: “Then he needs to speak louder. You cannot actively approach him and he cannot leave his position, he needs to stay where he is and you cannot actively go towards him.

“What you’ve done with the ball is fine, but you cannot actively go at the end of a game especially.”

Raducanu then admitted she was unaware of the rule, replying: “Sorry I didn’t know.

“Can you ask someone to tell him? I can’t say it now.”

Roig seemed to get the message, settling down after a very vocal opening pair of sets.

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Raducanu lost the first 7-6, and then in the second missed the chance to go two games clear while leading Sabalenka 4-3.

With the right of the court clear, she dragged a shot wide and put her hand over her mouth in shock and disappointment.

Roig instantly tried to override any negativity, and could be heard telling the Bromley native: “It’s okay, forget about it. Forget about it.

“Next, next. Take your time.”

Raducanu eventually overcame the shock to see out the second set against the world No.1 who knocked her out of Wimbledon a month earlier.

However, a tight third set, which in the eighth game encountered 15 deuces, was won by Sabalenka as she claimed a 7-6 4-6 7-6 victory.

Raducanu was in resurgent form at SW19 and for much of 2025, putting in her best run of form since her famous record-breaking 2021 US Open win.

Roig and Raducanu, the perfect match?

Now with her previous injury hell subsiding, the Brit has also landed one of the game’s great coaches after years of chopping and changing.

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Asked what impact the 57-year-old Spaniard has already had, she said ahead of their second match together: “It’s just, ‘the level needs to be better’. In a good way, not in a negative way. It’s just calling it how it is.

“And I’m very like that. I’m very factual and I don’t necessarily like fluffing something up. I think that’s where we get on really well and we understand each other.

“Just in general, everything is like: ‘We need to improve. We need to get every shot better.’ And that’s exciting, because I feel like there’s a lot of potential to go and I don’t think I’m near it.”