Can Mark Petchey help revive Emma Raducanu`s inconsistent performance? And what is the former US Open champion looking for in a coach?
Raducanu, the surprise winner of the 2021 US Open, has been without a permanent coach since ending her partnership with Nick Cavaday in January. However, Petchey has emerged as a leading candidate after briefly joining her team at the Miami Open alongside long-time mentor Jane O`Donoghue. Raducanu reached the quarter-finals at that tournament.
Their collaboration is set to continue on an `informal` basis, starting with the Madrid Open. In Madrid, Raducanu will face Dutch player Suzan Lamens, ranked 73rd in the world, who recently defeated Katie Boulter in the Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers.
Petchey, whose highest ATP singles ranking was world No 80 in August 1994, is a regular analyst for the Tennis Channel. His influence during the Miami Open was noticeable. Raducanu secured impressive wins against top-10 player Emma Navarro and Qatar Open champion Amanda Anisimova before being defeated by fourth seed Jessica Pegula.
Raducanu commented on the arrangement: “We`re keeping things informal for now, and it`s been effective. He`s someone I`ve known for a long time, and I feel I can trust him.”
“Nothing is really set in stone currently, but we are taking it week by week. He is assisting me as much as he can alongside his existing commitments.”
Who is Mark Petchey?
Petchey reached his career-best ranking of 80 in August 1994. His most significant Grand Slam result was reaching the third round at Wimbledon in 1997, where he was defeated by Boris Becker.
He previously coached a young Andy Murray, helping the Scot win his first ATP Tour title at the San Jose Open in 2006 and break into the top 50.
Petchey has also worked with WTA players, including Silvija Talaja, Tina Pisnik, and Greek star Maria Sakkari.
He transitioned away from full-time coaching professional players after moving to the United States and taking on a role with the Tennis Channel.
His broadcasting career has included work for various outlets such as Amazon Prime, ITV (for French Open coverage), BBC (for Wimbledon), and others.
It is understood that Petchey would ideally continue his broadcasting work even if he takes on a more permanent coaching role with Raducanu, although the feasibility of this is uncertain.
Can Petchey Lead Raducanu to Success?
When asked about Petchey`s contribution in Miami, Raducanu highlighted: “I think just a relaxed atmosphere, but one that is focused when necessary.”
“I am someone who trains very hard and can be quite intense, sometimes excessively so. This can make it harder to maintain extreme focus specifically on the match court because I`m already intensely focused from start to finish.”
“So, I think being able to switch off, enjoy time with the team, and play Spikeball before a match – we just establish certain routines. Yes, they provide small moments of happiness that I suppose help you keep going, the little things matter.”
Jonathan Overend, a commentator, views Petchey`s potential partnership with Raducanu as promising for the future.
“When Petchey appeared courtside in Miami, the results were immediate. It was her best tournament of the year so far,” Overend observed.
“Raducanu has spoken about wanting to ask many questions of her coach, and Petchey certainly has answers whenever questioned. So, I can imagine their discussions being very detailed.”
“It`s encouraging for the future because I still believe Raducanu has a significant result in her, and it might happen sooner than expected.”
Raducanu aims to build a stable support system, including a consistent coaching presence alongside her fitness trainer, Yutaka Nakamura. Nakamura is a highly-regarded physical trainer who previously worked with Maria Sharapova.
While she only participated in 13 tournaments in 2024, Raducanu has already played seven events this year, holding a 7-7 win-loss record. Her current WTA ranking is No 49.
Overend added: “The main challenge will be time and commitment, as Petchey has a job with the Tennis Channel in the US that demands a lot of his time.”
“Raducanu`s history of changing coaches simply reflects a results-oriented mindset where she makes changes if something isn`t working.”
“She is absolutely justified in ensuring she feels completely comfortable with her support team. Tennis is a very solitary sport; you travel constantly with your coach, and often it`s just the two of you, making that one-on-one dynamic crucial.”
Raducanu`s Coaching Changes
Raducanu ended her partnership with Nigel Sears after reaching the second week of Wimbledon as a wild card in 2021. She then parted ways with Andrew Richardson shortly after her remarkable victory in New York.
Other coaches she has worked with include Torben Beltz, Dmitry Tursunov, Sebastian Sachs, and Nick Cavaday. Her most recent coaching relationship was brief, with Vladimir Platenik leaving after just one match following her first-round exit at Indian Wells.
Platenik, the Slovakian coach, mentioned the British player was “feeling stressed,” revealing she “couldn`t see the ball through tears” and could “barely breathe” during a difficult stalking incident around the Dubai Open.
Speaking about their separation, Platenik told BBC Sport: “I completely understand Emma`s situation; she is not in an easy position. The world is watching her after the US Open, and everyone, including herself, has expectations for what she will do next.”
“So, for me, it is absolutely understandable that she is under significant pressure. She told me she was experiencing stress.”
“She wasn`t feeling okay, and that was her decision [to part ways]. I didn`t want to delve deeper into that conversation. I believe the player needs to feel good, and the player has the right to make decisions. Sometimes the decisions are good, and sometimes they are not.”
`Every Decision on a Large Scale`
Raducanu, who recently completed a 10-day training block in Los Angeles with Petchey, admitted that she still struggles with the intense public scrutiny surrounding her decisions.
“It`s genuinely difficult because I feel every decision I make is observed on such a large platform and is open to judgment,” she stated.
“I simply need to reach a point where I am sufficiently comfortable and confident in my actions that external opinions don`t affect me.”
“Over the past few years, this is honestly something I`ve been wrestling with because I would care about what others think. Generally, in my life, anytime someone is upset with me or something happens, it impacts me.”
Will Clay Suit Raducanu`s Game?
Former British player Laura Robson supports Raducanu`s potential to perform well on clay this year. Raducanu played a limited clay schedule last year, choosing not to play French Open qualifiers to prepare for the grass season instead.
“I`m sure Emma is keen to do well on both clay and grass this year and play a full schedule,” Robson commented.
“Clay is excellent for developing all aspects of one`s game. Tactically, it`s a fantastic surface to learn how to turn matches around when trailing in slower conditions.”
“Clay court conditions vary significantly depending on the weather and location.”
“Madrid`s conditions are always quite different from Rome`s, and it might be that one type of condition suits Emma`s game better than the other.”
British players Raducanu, Jack Draper, Katie Boulter, Sonay Kartal, and Jacob Fearnley are participating in the Madrid Open. Novak Djokovic is also playing, reportedly under the guidance of coach Andy Murray.
Top players from around the world are competing for the ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 titles at the event.
