Emma Raducanu, the British tennis sensation who captivated the world with her 2021 US Open victory, continues to navigate the highs and lows of professional tennis. At just 22, her journey since that historic triumph as a qualifier has been a rollercoaster of promise, setbacks, and resilience. Recently, her former coach, Mark Petchey, shed light on the specific challenges she faces against the sport’s most formidable opponents, offering insights into what it will take for her to reclaim Grand Slam glory.
Raducanu’s 2025 season has shown flashes of her early brilliance. She reached the semifinals at the Citi Open, the quarterfinals in Miami and Queen’s, and climbed back to No. 35 in the WTA rankings after a tough 2023 marred by wrist and ankle injuries. However, her recent third-round exit at the 2025 US Open against Elena Rybakina underscored a recurring hurdle: the dominance of power players. Rybakina, a towering figure known for her blistering groundstrokes, dispatched Raducanu in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2, in a match that exposed the Brit’s struggles against the game’s heavy hitters.
Petchey, who worked with Raducanu on an interim basis earlier this year and briefly in 2020, pinpointed the challenge. “These big hitters, these power players that make life difficult for her where they do rush her, are going to make things tricky for her,” he remarked. Players like Rybakina, Aryna Sabalenka, and Amanda Anisimova, with their aggressive, high-paced shots, disrupt Raducanu’s rhythm, forcing her to play on the defensive. Unlike these opponents, Raducanu’s game relies on agility, redirection, and baseline control rather than overwhelming power, which can be a disadvantage against those who dictate play with sheer force.
Despite the setback, Petchey remains optimistic, viewing these losses as opportunities for growth. “It’s just motivation for her to keep working on the things that she has been doing,” he said, emphasizing the need for Raducanu to refine her baseline game and serving consistency. Her best chance at success, he believes, lies in playing proactively, “redirecting the ball, moving it around, trying to get the opponent to move before they get a chance to set on the ball.” This approach, while effective against many, requires precision and confidence to counter the sport’s elite.
Raducanu’s recent coaching change adds another layer to her evolving story. After parting ways with Petchey due to his broadcasting commitments, she appointed Francisco Roig, Rafael Nadal’s former coach, whose experience with 22 Grand Slam titles brings a wealth of expertise. Roig, described by Toni Nadal as a technical master, is expected to help Raducanu refine her strokes and maintain control against fast-paced opponents. “Francis is a very good coach and a man who can help Raducanu to improve technically,” Toni Nadal noted, stressing the importance of balancing power with control in today’s game. Raducanu herself expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, saying, “He’s obviously got a bank of experience, and I’m very excited to continue working with him.”
The road ahead won’t be easy. Raducanu’s 0-6 record against top-10 players since her US Open win highlights the gap she must bridge. Yet, her resilience shines through. She’s played more matches in 2025 than any previous year, building the experience that tennis legend Martina Navratilova believes is crucial. “It all comes down to ‘can you do it during matches?’” Navratilova said, emphasizing that competitive play will reveal whether Roig’s guidance is taking root.
Raducanu’s next test comes at the Korea Open in Seoul, where she’s accepted a wildcard entry. After that, she’s slated for WTA 1000 events in Beijing and Wuhan, opportunities to test her progress against top competition. Petchey, ever the supporter, believes her work ethic remains as fierce as it was in 2020. “Her desire to be able to do what she did back in 2021 is as great as I remember it,” he said. He also highlighted her unique intangibles: “She’s got something that you can’t teach, which is complete courage. She’s an unbelievable athlete.”
As Raducanu continues her journey, the tennis world watches with bated breath. Her 2021 US Open triumph set a sky-high benchmark, but it also placed immense pressure on her young shoulders. Petchey acknowledged this duality, noting, “Having set the bar so high so early on in your career, every week you are measured not just by other people’s expectations but also your own.” Yet, with Roig’s guidance and her relentless drive, Raducanu is poised to adapt and evolve. Whether she can conquer the power players and reclaim her place among the elite remains an open question, but her story—one of grit, talent, and determination—continues to captivate.
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