As the lush green courts of the grass season beckon, Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, is gearing up for a pivotal phase of her 2025 WTA campaign with a renewed coaching team and a lingering back injury casting a shadow over her preparations. The 22-year-old British star has announced that she will be working with former coach Nick Cavaday and current mentor Mark Petchey throughout the grasscourt swing, including the prestigious Wimbledon Championships. This strategic reunion comes as Raducanu navigates both professional triumphs and personal challenges, including a persistent back issue that has disrupted her training.
Raducanu’s decision to bring Cavaday back into her fold marks a significant moment in her ever-evolving coaching journey. Cavaday, who stepped away from his role in January 2025 due to health concerns, was instrumental in guiding Raducanu back into the top 60 rankings after a 2023 season marred by surgeries. Their reunion was sparked by necessity, as Petchey, who has been coaching Raducanu on a part-time basis since March, was temporarily unavailable due to commentary duties in Paris during the French Open. “I’m happy to see him healthy, first of all,” Raducanu said of Cavaday, reflecting on their first on-court collaboration since Australia earlier this year. “It’s been such a long time since we were last on court together, and Mark is in Paris commentating, so Nick was around, and it was nice to just have a few days with him.”
The partnership with Petchey, a former coach of tennis legend Andy Murray, has already shown promise. Since their informal arrangement began, Raducanu reached the quarter-finals at the Miami Open and the fourth round at the Italian Open, though she faced a setback with a second-round loss to Iga Swiatek at the French Open. Petchey’s experience and tactical insights have been invaluable, and Raducanu values the complementary dynamic between her two coaches. “I think having Mark and Nick, both people who have banks of experience, and I think they can complement each other really well, and I trust both of them a lot,” she explained. “So that is a big fundamental for me.”
However, Raducanu’s optimism is tempered by physical challenges. A back spasm, the second in three weeks, has limited her practice time ahead of the inaugural HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club, where women will compete for the first time in over 50 years. The injury, which first flared up during a match against Danielle Collins in Strasbourg, has left Raducanu cautious. “I can’t really predict the future, and how it’s going to be,” she admitted. “I know I’ve been managing my back for the last few weeks now.” Despite the setback, Raducanu remains determined to compete, expressing excitement about playing on home soil and embracing the unique atmosphere of Queen’s Club.
Adding to the excitement, Raducanu will team up with British No. 1 Katie Boulter to form a dream doubles partnership at Queen’s, marking their first collaboration on the court. This move highlights Raducanu’s commitment to diversifying her game and building camaraderie with her compatriot. Yet, off the court, Raducanu continues to grapple with the aftermath of a stalking ordeal in Dubai earlier this year, which has left her “wary” when venturing out. The emotional toll was exacerbated by her lack of a full-time coach at the time, making her current stable coaching setup all the more significant.
As Raducanu embarks on the grasscourt season, her focus is on incremental progress rather than immediate glory. With Cavaday and Petchey by her side, she aims to leverage their expertise to navigate the competitive field at Queen’s, which includes stars like Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova and Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen. While her back injury poses a challenge, Raducanu’s resilience and strategic coaching choices signal her determination to reclaim her place among tennis’s elite. The grasscourts await, and with them, a new chapter in Raducanu’s remarkable journey.
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