She once faced Serena Williams at Wimbledon, now she's leading Purdue women's tennis
WEST LAFAYETTE — For the first time in nearly two decades, Purdue women’s tennis is under new leadership.
Athletic director Mike Bobinski announced Monday the hire of Raquel Atawo as the 10th coach in Boilermaker women’s tennis history.
Atawo comes to Purdue from Washington State, where she coached the past four seasons.
Atawo replaces Laura Glitz, who resigned after 18 seasons with the Boilermakers. Glitz led Purdue to its only tennis Big Ten championship in 2012 and leaves as the program’s all-time winningest coach with a dual match record of 210-188, which includes four NCAA tournament appearances.
Here’s three things to know about Purdue’s new hire.
Purdue women’s tennis coach Raquel Atawo coaching history
Atawo joined the coaching ranks after a pro career where she was one of the world’s most accomplished doubles players.
She began her career as an assistant at UC-Davis before working as an assistant at California and Auburn, where she earned Intercollegiate Tennis Association Southern Region Assistant Coach of the Year in 2021, leading to her hiring as Washington State’s head coach.
Atawo compiled a 25-42 record in her first three seasons before the Cougars went 20-8 and won the UTR Sports NIT Championship this season.
Atawo faced Serena Williams, Andy Murray at Wimbledon
In 2019, while teaming with Fabrice Martin, Atawo saw two all-time greats opposite the net when they faced Serena Williams and Andy Murray in the second round of the mixed doubles tournament at Wimbledon.
Williams and Murray won the match 7-5, 6-3.
Purdue women’s tennis coach Raquel Atawo’s pro career
Atawo was ranked as high as 10th in the world in doubles and as high as No. 162 in singles.
After starring at Cal during her college years, Atawo’s 15-year pro career included 18 doubles championships. Atawo had a career doubles record of 59-50 in grand slam tournaments, advancing to the semfinals at Wimbledon twice and the Australian Open once. Prior to turning pro, Atawo, then known as Raquel Kops-Jones, teamed with Christina Fusano to win the 2003 NCAA doubles championship.
Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: 3 things to know about new Purdue women’s tennis coach Raquel Atawo
