Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, has been thrust into the spotlight again following a pointed accusation from former pro and renowned coach Rennae Stubbs, who questioned the 22-year-old’s dedication to reaching the pinnacle of tennis. The comments, aired on Stubbs’ *Racquet’s Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast* on April 28, 2025, coincide with Raducanu’s new coaching partnership with Mark Petchey, a former Andy Murray coach, as she prepares for the Madrid Open. The accusation has sparked debate, with Raducanu’s camp and fans rallying to her defense
Stubbs, who has coached Serena Williams and Genie Bouchard, suggested Raducanu lacks the “burning desire” needed to reclaim a top spot, despite her undeniable talent. “Emma’s a top-10 player, 100 percent, but does she have that fire to grind through the tough moments consistently?” Stubbs said, referencing Raducanu’s frequent coaching changes—eight in four years, including a 14-day stint with Vlado Platenik in March 2025. “She’s got the game, but the revolving door of coaches makes me wonder if she’s fully committed to the process.” Stubbs’ remarks echo sentiments from Rick Macci in February, who noted Raducanu “has more coaches than titles” but still backed her potential.[
Raducanu’s brief trial with Platenik ended abruptly before the Miami Open, where she reached the quarterfinals with familiar faces Jane O’Donoghue and Petchey in her box. Platenik, despite the split, praised her rapid improvement, telling *The Telegraph*, “I’ve never seen a player improve as fast as Emma.” His work on her serve—reducing double faults from 24 in three Australian Open matches to just one in her Miami win over Sayaka Ishii—showed early promise. However, Raducanu cited a lack of chemistry, saying, “It wasn’t right at the time.”[
Now, Raducanu is working with Petchey, a former world No. 80 who coached Murray to his first ATP title in 2006 and briefly mentored Raducanu in 2020. Their “informal” arrangement, confirmed by Raducanu to *Sky Sports Tennis*, prioritizes trust and off-court rapport over rigid structure. “Mark’s someone I can trust because I’ve known him so long,” she said, noting their thought-provoking discussions. After a 10-day training block in Los Angeles, Raducanu feels optimistic about her clay-court prospects, despite skipping the Billie Jean King Cup to focus on preparation. “Clay can be good for me; I just need more time on it,” she told the BBC.[](https://thesportstak.com/amp/tennis/story/emma-raducanu-looking-for-a-new-coach-british-icon-addresses-the-change-3172475-2025-04-22)[](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/apr/21/emma-raducanu-mark-petchey-coaching-tennis)
Raducanu’s team hit back at Stubbs’ accusation, with a spokesperson telling *The Express* that her commitment is unquestionable, citing her top-50 return (No. 48 as of March 31) after a 2023 injury-plagued season. Fans on X echoed this, with @TennisLad praising her Miami run as proof of resilience, while others, like @SportsNut, argued Stubbs’ critique ignores the pressure on young players. Raducanu herself addressed the scrutiny, saying, “Every decision I make is judged on a big scale, but I’m learning to focus on what works for me.”
As Raducanu competes in Madrid, her first clay event of 2025, Petchey’s experience could stabilize her game. Her 6-3, 6-2 loss to Moyuka Uchijima at Indian Wells highlighted ongoing challenges, but her Miami quarterfinal—defeating Emma Navarro and Amanda Anisimova—showed flashes of her US Open form. Whether she can silence doubters like Stubbs and harness Petchey’s guidance remains to be seen, but Raducanu’s focus on a “lighthearted” approach suggests a maturing mindset.
