Can Mark Petchey reignite Emma Raducanu’s fluctuating fortunes – and what’s the former US Open champion on the lookout for in a coach?
Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, has been with no everlasting coach since parting methods with Nick Cavaday in January, however Petchey has emerged because the front-runner after briefly becoming a member of her workforce on the Miami Open – alongside long-time mentor Jane O’Donoghue – the place she reached the quarter-finals.
He’ll proceed to work with Raducanu on an “informal” foundation beginning on the Madrid Open the place she’s going to open her marketing campaign towards Dutch world No 73 Suzan Lamens, who just lately beat Katie Boulter in the course of the current Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers.
Petchey (proper) was joined by Raducanu’s long-time mentor Jane O’Donoghue within the field on the Miami Open
Petchey, who reached his career-high ATP singles rating of 80 in August 1994, is a daily contributor to the Tennis Channel, and his influence in the course of the Miami Open was notable.
Raducanu loved wins over top-10 participant Emma Navarro and Qatar Open champion Amanda Anisimova earlier than dropping to fourth seed Jessica Pegula.
“We’re keeping things informal for now and it’s been working,” Raducanu mentioned. “He is somebody I’ve identified for a very long time and I do really feel like I can belief him.
“For now there is no real thing set in stone but we’re taking it week to week and he’s helping me as much as he can alongside his current commitments.”
Who’s Mark Petchey?
Petchey reached the third spherical at Wimbledon in 1997
Petchey reached world No 80 in August 1994, whereas his greatest efficiency at a Grand Slam got here at Wimbledon in 1997 when he misplaced to Boris Becker within the third spherical.
He coached an 18-year-old Andy Murray – throughout which period the Scot received his first ATP Tour title on the 2006 San Jose Open broke into the highest 50.
He has additionally had success on the WTA Tour, working with Silvija Talaja, Tina Pisnik, and Greek star Maria Sakkari.
Petchey determined to maneuver away from working with skilled gamers after relocating to America and taking over a task with the Tennis Channel.
He has additionally beforehand labored for Amazon Prime, ITV after they had French Open broadcast rights, BBC throughout Wimbledon, Sky Sports activities, Tennis Australia and others.
It’s believed that Petchey would nonetheless need to proceed on this position ought to he begin work with the previous US Open winner, although it’s unsure whether or not that could be a chance.
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Sky Sports activities Tennis’ Tim Henman is eager for titles from Radacanu in 2025, however says her profession has been again to entrance
Can Petchey lead Raducanu to success?
When requested what Petchey had delivered to the workforce in Miami, Raducanu mentioned: “I think just a relaxed environment, but focused when needs to be.
“I am somebody who works actually arduous and may be actually intense, however generally too intense. I suppose in that means it is tougher to be extraordinarily centered when it is advisable to be on the match courtroom since you’re centered from the primary minute to the final.
“So I think just being able to switch off and have fun with them and play Spikeball before the match, and we just create certain routines. Yeah, they bring small doses of happiness that I guess just keep you going, the small things.
Health coach Yutaka Yakamura (proper) goes by some routine stretches alongside Raducanu
Raducanu is eager to create a bubble as she appears for a everlasting teaching presence alongside health coach Yutaka Nakamura. The hard-working bodily coach has beforehand educated the legendary Maria Sharapova.
She solely performed 13 occasions in 2024 however has already performed in seven tournaments this yr, with a 7-7 win-loss report. She is as much as No 49 within the newest WTA rankings.
Raducanu’s teaching carousel
Andrew Richardson (left) was Raducanu’s coach on the 2021 US Open
Raducanu stopped working with Nigel Sears after her run to the second week of Wimbledon as a wild card in 2021 after which parted firm with Andrew Richardson shortly after her fairytale run in New York.
She additionally labored alongside Torben Beltz, Dmitry Tursunov, Sebastian Sachs and Cavaday, whereas her most up-to-date coach lasted only one match with Vladimir Platenik parting methods with the 22-year-old shortly after she crashed out within the opening spherical at Indian Wells.
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Raducanu spoke about her stalker ordeal she suffered on the Dubai Championships
The Slovakian coach mentioned the British star had been “feeling stressed” after revealing she “couldn’t see the ball through tears” and will “barely breathe” throughout a stalking ordeal on the Dubai Open.
“I totally understand Emma, she’s not in an easy position. The world is looking at her after the US Open and everybody is expecting, including herself, what she is going to do next,” Platenik informed BBC Sport.
“So for me it’s absolutely understandable that she’s under a lot of pressure. She told me she was feeling stressed.
“She was not feeling OK, and that was her choice. I did not need to go into deeper communication about that. I believe the participant must really feel good, and the participant must decide. Generally you make a very good choice, and generally unhealthy.”
‘Every decision on big scale’
Raducanu is continuous a casual association with Petchey after using plenty of coaches with little success amid kind and health points
Raducanu, who just lately loved a 10-day coaching block in Los Angeles with Petchey, admitted she nonetheless struggles with the scrutiny that follows each choice she makes.
“It’s really difficult, because I think every decision I make is made on such a big scale that it’s up for judgment,” she mentioned.
“I just need to get to a place where I’m comfortable enough and secure enough in what I’m doing that it doesn’t matter what other people are saying.
“Over the previous few years, that’s, in truth, one thing that I’ve been form of toiling with, as a result of I might care about what folks assume. I believe simply normally, in my life, like anytime somebody’s upset with me or one thing, it impacts me.”
Will clay go well with Raducanu’s sport?
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Martina Navratilova and Henman have been impressed with Raducanu’s resilience throughout her defeat to Jessica Pegula in Miami
Laura Robson has backed the British star to shine on clay this yr with Raducanu enjoying solely a restricted clay-court programme final yr, as she opted towards enjoying in qualifying for the French Open in favour of getting ready for the grass-court season.
“I’m sure Emma would like to do well on clay and grass this year and play a full schedule,” mentioned Robson.
“Clay is great for developing all areas of the game. Tactically, it’s a great surface to learn how to turn around matches when you are behind in slower conditions.
“Clay circumstances change a lot relying on the climate and the place you might be enjoying.
“Madrid is always so different to Rome and it might be that one set of conditions suits Emma better than the other.”
Watch the Madrid Open – stay on Sky Sports activities
Jack Draper shall be aiming to land his second Masters 1000 titles of the yr on the Madrid Open
Brits Raducanu, Jack Draper, Katie Boulter, Sonay Kartal and Jacob Fearnley are in motion on the Madrid Open, whereas Novak Djokovic shall be enjoying below the watchful eye of coach Andy Murray.
The largest names in tennis shall be competing for the ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 titles.
Watch the ATP and WTA Excursions, in addition to the US Open in New York, stay on Sky Sports activities in 2025 or stream with NOW and the Sky Sports activities app, giving Sky Sports activities clients entry to over 50 per cent extra stay sport this yr at no additional price. Discover out extra right here.
