Emma Raducanu has responded to growing speculation about her coaching situation, clarifying that while she’s working closely with Mark Petchey, nothing official has been decided just yet.
After a brief two-week trial with coach Vladimir Platenik that ended without success, Raducanu was spotted training with Petchey in Miami. The reunion caught attention, especially since the 54-year-old had worked with her early in her career—before her breakthrough at the 2021 US Open.
The pairing appeared to click, as Raducanu delivered an impressive run in Miami, notching high-quality wins en route to her first-ever WTA 1000 quarterfinal.
Raducanu: “I like the informal approach”
In the wake of her strong performance, rumors swirled that Petchey was set to become her full-time coach. But Raducanu was quick to clarify their current arrangement.
“I’m happy with the setup going forward right now—it’s been working well,” she told BBC Sport. “I like him a lot, and I’ve known him since before the US Open. It’s really nice to have familiar faces around.”
She continued, “We’re keeping things informal for now and it’s been working. He’s someone I’ve known for a long time, and I trust him. There’s nothing officially set in stone yet—we’re taking it week by week, and he’s helping out as much as he can alongside his other commitments.”
Training in LA, Clay Season Ahead
Following her Miami success, Raducanu opted to delay her return to competition. She withdrew from both the Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers and the Rouen Open, instead choosing to focus on a training block in Los Angeles to prepare for the clay season.
Now back on tour, Raducanu is set to open her clay campaign in Madrid, where she faces Suzan Lamens in the first round on Wednesday. The match marks her first competitive appearance in a month.
