Emma Raducanu is turning back the clock. The British tennis star has reunited with Andrew Richardson—the coach who guided her to that stunning, fairytale US Open title in 2021 when she was just an 18-year-old qualifier. The pair recently linked up for a training stint at the Ferrer Academy near Benidorm, Spain, as Raducanu prepares for her return to the tour at the Italian Open in Rome next week.

Richardson now serves as the tennis director at the academy, which was founded by former world number three and French Open runner-up David Ferrer. Raducanu's team explained that she was eager to get some quality practice on European clay ahead of upcoming tournaments, and given her long history with Richardson—who also coached her during her junior days—the academy was a natural choice.

For now, there are no firm plans for the duo to work together throughout the clay-court season or beyond. But the 23-year-old is set to train at the iconic Foro Italico in Rome on Saturday, hoping to be fit enough to compete in the Italian Open next week. Her last match was at Indian Wells in early March, and she has since missed the Miami Open due to a viral illness, as well as clay events in Linz and Madrid to focus on her recovery.

Since parting ways with coach Francisco Roig after the Australian Open, Raducanu has been relying on regular support from Alexis Canter. She admitted in Indian Wells that her mind is "open" to the idea of hiring another full-time coach, though she acknowledged the intense scrutiny that comes with any decision she makes.

It's a fascinating chapter for Raducanu, who famously won the 2021 US Open without dropping a single set. Richardson was in her coaching box for that historic run, having only replaced Nigel Sears after Wimbledon that summer. But following her spectacular triumph in New York, Raducanu and her family opted for a more experienced WTA coach, and Richardson's contract wasn't extended.

Now, as she gears up for a return to clay, Raducanu is scheduled to practice with Germany's Eva Lys in Rome on Saturday. As a seeded player, she would receive a first-round bye, meaning she wouldn't have to play until Thursday at the earliest. With the French Open kicking off on May 24, and WTA events in Strasbourg and Rabat still on the calendar, all eyes will be on how this reunion unfolds—and whether a little bit of that 2021 magic can be recaptured on the red dirt.