As the grass-court season dawns, Emma Raducanu is stepping onto the lush green courts with renewed confidence, bolstered by a coaching team she trusts implicitly. The 2021 US Open champion has confirmed that she will be guided by two familiar figures, Nick Cavaday and Mark Petchey, throughout the grass swing, including the historic WTA 500 tournament at Queen’s Club and the prestigious Wimbledon Championships. This announcement comes as Raducanu aims to harness her recent resurgence and navigate the challenges of a surface that demands both finesse and adaptability, all while managing a lingering back injury.
Raducanu’s journey since her fairytale triumph in New York has been a rollercoaster of injuries, coaching changes, and intense scrutiny. Multiple wrist and ankle surgeries in 2023 sidelined her for much of the season, and a series of short-lived coaching partnerships raised questions about her team’s stability. However, the 22-year-old Brit has found solace in reuniting with Cavaday, her childhood coach, and Petchey, a former mentor to Andy Murray. “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,” Raducanu said, emphasizing the importance of trust in her inner circle. “So that is a big fundamental for me. So, yeah, I’m looking forward to this upcoming season and see how it goes.”
Cavaday’s return is particularly meaningful. Having stepped away in January 2025 due to health concerns, he is now back in Raducanu’s corner, bringing a sense of familiarity that she craves. “I’m happy to see him healthy, first of all,” she shared, reflecting on their time apart since practicing together in Australia. “I mean, it’s been such a long time since we were last on court together in Australia, and Mark is in Paris commentating, so Nick was around and it was nice to just have a few days with him.” Cavaday, who coached Raducanu during her junior years, oversaw her climb back into the top 60 after her injury-plagued 2023, and his presence offers a steady hand as she navigates the grass season.
Petchey, meanwhile, has been a transformative influence since joining Raducanu in March 2025 on an informal basis. Their partnership, initially a trial during the Miami Open where she reached the quarter-finals, has evolved into a cornerstone of her team. Petchey’s decision to step away from his commentary duties to focus on coaching full-time underscores his commitment. “I have a pretty good gut feeling and intuition about people who I get on with, and who I trust,” Raducanu noted, highlighting how Petchey’s long-standing relationship with her—dating back to before her US Open win—has fostered a positive environment. Their collaboration has already yielded results, with strong showings at the Miami Open and the Italian Open, where she reached the fourth round before falling to Coco Gauff.
The grass swing presents both opportunity and challenge for Raducanu. The Queen’s Club event, marking the WTA’s return to the venue after a 52-year absence, is a historic moment, and Raducanu is thrilled to be part of it. She’s also teaming up with British No. 1 Katie Boulter for doubles, a partnership she’s both excited and nervous about given her limited doubles experience. “I’m quite nervous because I haven’t played doubles and I haven’t really practiced doubles,” she admitted with a smile. “So I’m just, like, not really sure what to do, but I’m just going to hope that Katie tells me what to do. I’m good at taking directions.” This lighthearted approach reflects her desire to keep the atmosphere relaxed, a strategy that has unlocked her creativity on the court.
Despite her enthusiasm, Raducanu is tempering expectations due to a back injury that disrupted her grass-court preparation. “I have had a small interruption with a back spasm again, so that was a bit annoying,” she said. “That kind of hindered my grass prep, but the last few days I have managed to get on the grass and just begin to feel my feet.” With only a few days of practice on the surface, she’s approaching the season with a pragmatic mindset: “My expectations, truthfully, are pretty low because I played points for the first time today and I’ve had maybe two or three days on the grass courts so it’s not been much.” Yet, her natural affinity for grass, demonstrated by two fourth-round runs at Wimbledon, suggests she could still make waves.
Raducanu’s story is one of resilience. After facing stalking incidents and relentless social media criticism, she’s learned to lean on a tight-knit team. “I feel pretty settled. I feel like I have good people around me,” she said, a stark contrast to earlier moments of unease. With Cavaday and Petchey by her side, Raducanu is poised to embrace the grass season, hoping to channel her trust in her team into success on the court.
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