Emma Raducanu, the British tennis sensation and 2021 US Open champion, is navigating a pivotal moment in her career as she prepares for the French Open, set to commence on May 25, 2025. The 22-year-old has recently solidified her coaching partnership with Mark Petchey, a familiar face who previously guided her to a quarter-final run at the Miami Open earlier this year. However, this new alliance comes with an immediate hurdle: Petchey’s commitments as a commentator for TNT Sports during the French Open may limit his availability, posing a potential challenge for Raducanu as she aims to make her mark on the clay courts of Roland Garros.
Raducanu’s decision to continue working with Petchey follows a period of coaching instability. Since her meteoric rise at the 2021 US Open, she has cycled through seven coaches, including Nigel Sears, Andrew Richardson, and Nick Cavaday, who stepped down in January 2025 for health reasons. Her brief trial with Slovak coach Vlado Platenik ended abruptly after just one match at Indian Wells, underscoring her quest for a stable, trusting partnership. Petchey, who also coached a young Andy Murray to his first ATP title in 2006, emerged as a trusted figure during the Miami Open, where Raducanu reached her first WTA 1000 quarter-final. “I feel very secure and happy and wanting to fight for them,” Raducanu said of Petchey and her long-time mentor Jane O’Donoghue, who have been constants in her corner.
The informal nature of Raducanu’s arrangement with Petchey reflects her evolving approach to her career. After facing criticism for her frequent coaching changes, she has embraced a more relaxed philosophy. “I’m trying to find a way now to just really do what is natural and what feels true to myself and what feels authentic,” she recently shared. This mindset has yielded positive results, with an uptick in performance since Petchey joined her team. In Miami, her serve—a shot that plagued her earlier in the season with 24 double faults at the Australian Open—showed significant improvement, thanks to Petchey’s focus on repetitive drills and confidence-building exercises like spikeball and football warm-ups.
However, the French Open presents a unique challenge. Petchey’s broadcasting duties with TNT Sports, alongside tennis legends like John McEnroe and Andre Agassi, may clash with Raducanu’s coaching needs. While he is expected to find gaps in his schedule to assist her, the potential for divided attention has raised concerns. British tennis veteran Dan Evans recently expressed skepticism about the longevity of this setup, suggesting that if Raducanu’s results falter, the arrangement could unravel. “It can’t last if she starts losing matches and Petchey is in the commentary box,” Evans remarked.
Despite these concerns, Raducanu remains focused on her clay-court preparations. After a promising run at the Italian Open, where she reached the last 16 before falling to Coco Gauff, she has accepted a wildcard to compete in Strasbourg, her final tune-up event before Roland Garros. This decision underscores her determination to build momentum on a surface where she has historically struggled, never advancing beyond the second round at the French Open. Yet, optimism surrounds her camp. Former British No. 1 Tim Henman believes she is “heading in the right direction,” citing her improved movement and fighting spirit.
Raducanu’s journey to the French Open is also a test of her resilience off the court. She has openly discussed the pressures of public scrutiny and the toll of her rapid rise to fame. By prioritizing trusted allies like Petchey and O’Donoghue, she is creating a “bubble” to shield herself from external noise. Her recent training block in Los Angeles with Petchey was described as a refreshing blend of hard work and enjoyment, a balance she hopes to carry into Paris.
As the French Open looms, Raducanu stands at a crossroads. With Petchey’s guidance, she has the opportunity to harness her undeniable talent and silence doubters. Yet, the challenge of balancing his dual roles adds an element of uncertainty. For a player who thrives on trust and authenticity, the coming weeks will reveal whether this partnership can provide the stability she needs to shine on one of tennis’s grandest stages.
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