Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, has candidly confronted the intense scrutiny surrounding her frequent coaching changes, expressing frustration with the public judgment she faces. The 22-year-old British tennis star, currently ranked world number 48, recently parted ways with coach Vlado Platenik after a brief two-week trial and is now in discussions to appoint Mark Petchey, a familiar figure from her past, as her permanent coach. Speaking ahead of the Madrid Open on April 22, 2025, Raducanu opened up about the pressures of her decisions being magnified and her determination to find the right coaching fit to propel her back toward the top of the WTA rankings.
Since her historic triumph in New York at age 18, Raducanu has navigated a turbulent journey, marked by injuries, form fluctuations, and a series of coaching changes that have drawn widespread attention. Her decision to part with Andrew Richardson, who guided her to the US Open title, just weeks after her victory set the tone for a pattern that has seen her work with seven coaches in less than four years, including Torben Beltz, Dmitry Tursunov, Sebastian Sachs, Nick Cavaday, and most recently, Platenik. The brevity of her trial with Platenik, which ended after one match at Indian Wells, sparked renewed criticism, but Raducanu remains defiant. “It’s really difficult, because I think every decision I make is made on such a big scale that it’s up for judgement,” she said. “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.”
Raducanu’s latest coaching saga has taken a promising turn with Petchey, a former coach of Andy Murray and a trusted mentor who worked with her during the 2020 pandemic and at the 2025 Miami Open. Their collaboration in Miami proved fruitful, with Raducanu reaching the quarterfinals—her best result of the year—after defeating top players like Emma Navarro and Amanda Anisimova. “We haven’t made anything formal. It’s pretty informal for now but is something that’s going really well,” Raducanu said of Petchey, emphasizing the trust and comfort she feels with him. “He’s someone I feel I can trust because I’ve known him so long. For now it’s working really well and it’s nice to be with someone that I feel comfortable with.” Her comments suggest a cautious optimism, with ongoing talks to formalize Petchey’s role as she prepares for the clay-court season.
The constant spotlight on her coaching decisions has taken a toll, with Raducanu admitting that external opinions once weighed heavily on her. “Over the last few years, that is, truthfully, something that I have been kind of toiling with, because I would care about what people think,” she revealed. Yet, she is striving to tune out the noise, focusing instead on what drives her performance. Her Miami Open run, bolstered by Petchey and long-time mentor Jane O’Donoghue, showcased a relaxed yet focused approach, with Raducanu crediting their “fun” dynamic for her success. “I think just a relaxed environment, but focused when needs to be,” she noted, highlighting routines like playing Spikeball before matches to balance intensity with enjoyment.
As Raducanu gears up for Madrid, where she faces Dutch player Suzan Lamens in the first round, she sees the clay season as a golden opportunity to climb the rankings, especially after missing the 2024 French Open due to injury. With a protected ranking ensuring entry into major tournaments, she is poised to capitalize on her recent form. Tennis legends like Martina Navratilova have urged her to commit to a coach long-term, believing that stability could unlock her potential. For now, Raducanu is heeding her own instincts, valuing the lessons learned from her coaching trials. “I’m still figuring things out: what works for me, what doesn’t,” she said, signaling a maturing approach to her career. With Petchey’s potential appointment, Raducanu is ready to silence her critics and reclaim her place among tennis’s elite.