Emma Raducanu hits out at ‘judgement’ she faces and breaks her silence on next coaching appointment
Emma Raducanu has confirmed she will continue working with coach Mark Petchey, though the partnership remains informal. Petchey, who formerly coached Andy Murray, joined Raducanu’s team ahead of the Miami Open last month—where she reached the quarter-finals, marking her best run since winning the 2021 US Open.
Speaking to Sky Sports Tennis, Raducanu emphasized the importance of trust and comfort in her working relationship with Petchey.
“We haven’t made anything formal. It’s pretty informal for now, but it’s going really well,” she explained.
“He’s someone I feel I can trust because I’ve known him so long. It’s nice to be with someone I’m comfortable with.”
Raducanu reflected on the challenges she’s faced in finding the right coaching dynamic, adding that she’s still experimenting with what works best for her on and off the court.
“I’m still figuring things out—what works for me, what doesn’t. I’m not getting as technical as I used to. It wasn’t the best start to the season for me, so it was nice to rest and reset while adjusting to the clay surface.”
She described the recent training block with Petchey as a productive balance of work and relaxation:
“We did some great work together, not just on court. He’s someone I get on really well with, and we always have very thought-provoking conversations.”
Media Pressure and Public Scrutiny
In a separate interview with the BBC, Raducanu opened up about the pressure and criticism that comes with her career decisions, particularly around coaching changes.
“Every decision I make is judged on such a big scale,” she said.
“I’ve been toiling with that over the last few years. I used to really care about what people think—any time someone was upset with me, it affected me.”
She expressed a desire to reach a point where outside opinions no longer influence her sense of direction:
“I just need to get to a place where I’m comfortable and secure in what I’m doing—so that it doesn’t matter what others say.”
A New Approach to Scheduling
Raducanu also addressed questions—raised by former World No. 1 Andy Roddick—about why she didn’t immediately follow up her Miami performance with more tournament play.
“I’ve realised that less is more sometimes. I train very intensely and have a tendency to overdo it,” she explained.
“It’s about focusing hard while I’m on court, and then switching off properly afterward. You hear people say matches help, and they do, but sometimes you just need to reset and refocus.”
Following her Miami run, Raducanu took time off for a training block in the U.S. to prepare for the clay season. She now feels ready for her first clay-court event of 2025 at the Madrid Open this week.
