On May 28, 2025, Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, faced a formidable challenge at the French Open, falling 6-1, 6-2 to the reigning champion Iga Swiatek in a second-round clash on Court Philippe-Chatrier. The defeat, a stark reminder of the gap between Raducanu and the WTA’s elite, marked her fifth loss in as many meetings against Swiatek, echoing a similar 6-1, 6-0 thrashing at the 2025 Australian Open. Yet, amidst the disappointment, Raducanu’s coach, Mark Petchey, delivered a passionate defense of his player, expressing frustration at persistent criticism about her work ethic. “I’m a little tired of hearing people say that she doesn’t work hard,” Petchey declared, his voice firm with conviction. “I spent 10 months with her in 2020 and I’ve spent every day that I can with her since Miami, and not once has she not put in a full day shift.”
Raducanu, ranked No. 41, arrived in Paris battling physical setbacks, including a lingering back issue from Strasbourg and illness during her gritty first-round win over Wang Xinyu. Despite these challenges, she showed resilience, securing a 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 victory in a nearly three-hour battle, her longest clay-court match to date. “I’m really proud of today’s match,” Raducanu said after the win, highlighting her ability to push through sickness. “To have come through that and overcome how I was feeling, I’m really happy with it.” Her performance earned her 70 ranking points, boosting her from No. 41 to a provisional No. 37 in the WTA Live Rankings, and £92,211 in prize money, a 27.9% increase from her 2022 French Open earnings. This progress, Petchey argued, reflects her commitment, which he believes is unfairly questioned. “In terms of turning up every day and putting in a good shift, she’s done it every single time,” he insisted, aiming to “bury that myth where it belongs.”
Petchey, who began working with Raducanu informally in March 2025 at the Miami Open, has been instrumental in her recent resurgence. Their partnership, built on trust from a prior stint in 2020, has brought stability after a turbulent period marked by coaching changes and injuries. Raducanu’s 2025 season, with a 12-10 record, includes a Miami Open quarter-final and an Italian Open last-16 run, showcasing her climb back into the top 50 after missing much of 2023 and 2024 due to injuries. Petchey’s technical tweaks, particularly to her serve and forehand, have been pivotal. “Serve was something that she wasn’t feeling comfortable with, which is what we worked on a new motion in LA,” he explained, noting how a heavier racket and adjusted string pattern have bolstered her clay-court game. Former doubles player Colin Fleming praised these changes, observing that Raducanu’s service motion now feels “more natural,” enhancing her performance on a surface where she’s historically struggled.
However, facing Swiatek, the “Queen of Clay” with a 23-match win streak at Roland Garros, exposed Raducanu’s ongoing challenges against top-tier opponents. She has won just one of nine career matches against top-five players, a 6-1, 6-2 loss to Coco Gauff in Rome underscoring the same hurdle. Petchey offered a sobering perspective, warning that tennis has “changed massively” since Raducanu’s 2021 US Open triumph. “The games have changed massively, the balls are four times heavier than back in 2021,” he said, emphasizing the physical demands of modern tennis, especially on clay. “If you can’t put the ball through the court on a windy, heavy clay court day against someone like Iga, you’re going to get into all sorts of trouble.” He urged Raducanu to focus on closing the gap with the best, adding, “She doesn’t need me to sit between 20-50 in the world and, if I’m not the best choice, she needs to find the best choice.”
Raducanu remains undeterred, refusing to “hide in a hole” despite the defeat. “I think I have made progress since January, maybe not in this match, but in general,” she said, acknowledging Swiatek’s relentless pressure. “You just don’t feel like there is that much space on the court.” Her informal arrangement with Petchey, who juggles coaching with commentary duties, has drawn scrutiny, with some, like Dan Evans, questioning its sustainability. Yet, Raducanu values the relaxed dynamic, crediting Petchey’s “thought-provoking” insights and the presence of his daughter, Myah, courtside in Paris. “I actually think having her there really helped,” Raducanu said with a laugh, calling Myah a “mini-Mark.” As she shifts focus to the grass season, aiming for a Wimbledon seeding, Raducanu’s resilience and Petchey’s guidance signal a player determined to evolve, undaunted by the sport’s evolving demands.
# Mark Petchey Defends Emma Raducanu’s Work Ethic After French Open Loss to Iga Swiatek
On May 28, 2025, Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, faced a formidable challenge at the French Open, falling 6-1, 6-2 to the reigning champion Iga Swiatek in a second-round clash on Court Philippe-Chatrier. The defeat, a stark reminder of the gap between Raducanu and the WTA’s elite, marked her fifth loss in as many meetings against Swiatek, echoing a similar 6-1, 6-0 thrashing at the 2025 Australian Open. Yet, amidst the disappointment, Raducanu’s coach, Mark Petchey, delivered a passionate defense of his player, expressing frustration at persistent criticism about her work ethic. “I’m a little tired of hearing people say that she doesn’t work hard,” Petchey declared, his voice firm with conviction. “I spent 10 months with her in 2020 and I’ve spent every day that I can with her since Miami, and not once has she not put in a full day shift.”
Raducanu, ranked No. 41, arrived in Paris battling physical setbacks, including a lingering back issue from Strasbourg and illness during her gritty first-round win over Wang Xinyu. Despite these challenges, she showed resilience, securing a 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 victory in a nearly three-hour battle, her longest clay-court match to date. “I’m really proud of today’s match,” Raducanu said after the win, highlighting her ability to push through sickness. “To have come through that and overcome how I was feeling, I’m really happy with it.” Her performance earned her 70 ranking points, boosting her from No. 41 to a provisional No. 37 in the WTA Live Rankings, and £92,211 in prize money, a 27.9% increase from her 2022 French Open earnings. This progress, Petchey argued, reflects her commitment, which he believes is unfairly questioned. “In terms of turning up every day and putting in a good shift, she’s done it every single time,” he insisted, aiming to “bury that myth where it belongs.”
Petchey, who began working with Raducanu informally in March 2025 at the Miami Open, has been instrumental in her recent resurgence. Their partnership, built on trust from a prior stint in 2020, has brought stability after a turbulent period marked by coaching changes and injuries. Raducanu’s 2025 season, with a 12-10 record, includes a Miami Open quarter-final and an Italian Open last-16 run, showcasing her climb back into the top 50 after missing much of 2023 and 2024 due to injuries. Petchey’s technical tweaks, particularly to her serve and forehand, have been pivotal. “Serve was something that she wasn’t feeling comfortable with, which is what we worked on a new motion in LA,” he explained, noting how a heavier racket and adjusted string pattern have bolstered her clay-court game. Former doubles player Colin Fleming praised these changes, observing that Raducanu’s service motion now feels “more natural,” enhancing her performance on a surface where she’s historically struggled.
However, facing Swiatek, the “Queen of Clay” with a 23-match win streak at Roland Garros, exposed Raducanu’s ongoing challenges against top-tier opponents. She has won just one of nine career matches against top-five players, a 6-1, 6-2 loss to Coco Gauff in Rome underscoring the same hurdle. Petchey offered a sobering perspective, warning that tennis has “changed massively” since Raducanu’s 2021 US Open triumph. “The games have changed massively, the balls are four times heavier than back in 2021,” he said, emphasizing the physical demands of modern tennis, especially on clay. “If you can’t put the ball through the court on a windy, heavy clay court day against someone like Iga, you’re going to get into all sorts of trouble.” He urged Raducanu to focus on closing the gap with the best, adding, “She doesn’t need me to sit between 20-50 in the world and, if I’m not the best choice, she needs to find the best choice.”
Raducanu remains undeterred, refusing to “hide in a hole” despite the defeat. “I think I have made progress since January, maybe not in this match, but in general,” she said, acknowledging Swiatek’s relentless pressure. “You just don’t feel like there is that much space on the court.” Her informal arrangement with Petchey, who juggles coaching with commentary duties, has drawn scrutiny, with some, like Dan Evans, questioning its sustainability. Yet, Raducanu values the relaxed dynamic, crediting Petchey’s “thought-provoking” insights and the presence of his daughter, Myah, courtside in Paris. “I actually think having her there really helped,” Raducanu said with a laugh, calling Myah a “mini-Mark.” As she shifts focus to the grass season, aiming for a Wimbledon seeding, Raducanu’s resilience and Petchey’s guidance signal a player determined to evolve, undaunted by the sport’s evolving demands.
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