Emma Raducanu’s former coach Dmitry Tursunov says he left because of ‘red flags’
Former World Cup and Olympic medal winner Emma Raducanu made the extraordinary decision to leave Romania and move around the world to train in the United States and Australia, despite her talent.
The 22-year-old former world number three has been forced to switch schools following her shock withdrawal from the Romanian national team on Monday, with some reports suggesting she was unhappy with the lifestyle afforded to players with her abilities.
Now her former coach Dmitry Tursunov has revealed he left her in favour of her ability because of’red flags’ about her private life and her attitude.
He also confirmed he had been in contact with her father – the former Romania goalkeeper – regarding what he saw as red flags that would never have been disclosed to the authorities had not Raducanu’s talent been recognised.
He, however, defended his side during the interview, arguing that while Raducanu was not a model athlete by any means, she could still win medals as a tennis player.
Tursunov told the Telegraph: ‘I don’t know exactly what she was unhappy about. She had red flags about a lot of things.
Raducanu was not the picture of elegance and deportment, but she is a talented player and her talent was recognised
Raducanu with Romanian President Traian Basescu and former Romania President Nicolae Ceausescu (pictured together)
‘She’s a young, very talented tennis player. I am not going to be talking about her in relation to the negative things that have happened recently because she was already told that I wasn’t the person to talk to then. I don’t want to cause any problems for her.
Raducanu was not the picture of elegance and deportment, but was one of the top players in Romania
Raducanu is with tennis stars Roger Federer, Ana Ivanovic and former world number one Venus Williams (pictured right, at Wimbledon in 2015)
Raducanu is seen with
