Emma Raducanu is considering hiring Mark Petchey as her full-time coach.
Raducanu, the US Open champion of 2021, has been without a permanent coach since January. However, Mark Petchey is now a leading contender for the role. He previously coached Raducanu during the summer of 2020.
Petchey joined Raducanu`s team temporarily at the Miami Open, along with Jane O`Donoghue. During this tournament, she reached the quarter-finals.
Mark Petchey usually works as a commentator for the Tennis Channel. However, his presence in Miami was beneficial for Raducanu. She achieved victories against Emma Navarro, a top-10 player, and Amanda Anisimova, the Qatar Open champion. She eventually lost to Jessica Pegula, the fourth seed.
Petchey (right) and Jane O`Donoghue watching Raducanu at the Miami Open
When asked about Petchey`s contribution to the team, Raducanu commented that he creates a relaxed but focused environment when necessary.
She described herself as a hard worker who can be very intense, sometimes overly so. She feels that having someone who helps her relax makes it easier to focus during matches.
Raducanu mentioned that being able to relax and have fun, like playing Spikeball before a match, and establishing routines, brings small joys that help her keep going.
She added that having trusted people around her has made her feel better off the court, which has positively impacted her performance on the court, allowing her to play more freely.
Who is Mark Petchey?
Raducanu aims to create a close-knit team as she seeks a permanent coach to work with her fitness trainer, Yutaka Nakamura.
Petchey`s highest world ranking was No 80 in 1994. His best Grand Slam result was at Wimbledon in 1997, where he reached the third round before losing to Boris Becker.
Petchey previously coached Andy Murray when he was 18, during which time Murray won his first ATP Tour title. Petchey later transitioned away from coaching professional players to work for the Tennis Channel in America.
He has also worked for various media outlets including Prime, ITV, BBC, and Tennis Australia.
Raducanu`s Coaching History
Raducanu won the 2021 US Open with coach Andrew Richardson.
Raducanu stopped working with Nigel Sears after reaching the second week of Wimbledon in 2021 as a wild card. She then split with Andrew Richardson soon after her US Open victory.
She has also been coached by Torben Beltz, Dmitry Tursunov, Sebastian Sachs, and Nick Cavaday. Her most recent coaching partnership with Vladimir Platenik ended after just one match at Indian Wells.
Platenik mentioned that Raducanu was feeling stressed.
He told BBC Sport that he understands Raducanu`s situation, noting the high expectations after her US Open win. He said it`s understandable she feels pressure and told him she was stressed.
Platenik said there were no hard feelings and that Raducanu ended the coaching relationship fairly, though quickly. He acknowledged the nature of tennis and sport, respecting her decision.
He concluded that her decision was based on not feeling okay, and a player`s well-being and decisions should be respected, even if outcomes are uncertain.
Raducanu`s Potential Next Tournament
Raducanu might next compete at the Madrid Open, a WTA 1000 event from April 21 to May 4, for which she has direct entry.
She chose not to play for Great Britain in the Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers and withdrew from the WTA 250 event in Rouen this week to focus on training.
