**Emma Raducanu Nears Wimbledon Goal, Puts British Rival on Notice**
Emma Raducanu has taken a significant step toward her 2025 Wimbledon ambitions by confirming Mark Petchey as her coach for the grass-court season, a move that has put British rival Katie Boulter on alert. The 22-year-old, ranked No. 48, is targeting a deep run at Wimbledon, her stated career goal, per express.co.uk, after a resurgent 2025 season that included a fourth-round Italian Open appearance and an upset over Iga Swiatek. Raducanu’s decision to stick with Petchey, reported on May 14, 2025, by Express.co.uk, follows speculation about a potential coaching stint with Andy Murray, which she dismissed in favor of continuity.
Raducanu’s Wimbledon aspirations are fueled by her 2021 breakout, reaching the fourth round as a wildcard, and her 2024 performance, where she again hit the fourth round, defeating Maria Sakkari before losing to Lulu Sun, per @TheTennisLetter on X. Her goal to end Britain’s 45-year wait for a women’s Wimbledon champion, last achieved by Virginia Wade in 1977, adds pressure, per abs-cbn.com. Boulter, the British No. 1 ranked No. 23 after winning the WTA 250 Trophée Clarins on May 18, 2025, per wtatennis.com, is now on notice as Raducanu’s clay-court progress—highlighted by her playful “rehydrating” of a Strasbourg court, per Sportskeeda—signals growing confidence.
Boulter, who reached Wimbledon’s third round in 2024, faces a potential early clash with Raducanu, whose aggressive baseline game and improved fitness could challenge her on grass, per @DExpress_Sport on X. Fans on X, like @TheTennisTalker, praise Raducanu’s “solid, aggressive play,” while @SkySportsTennis notes her rising form. As Raducanu faces Daria Kasatkina in Strasbourg’s first round on May 19, a win could further boost her momentum, putting Boulter and other rivals on high alert for Wimbledon.
