A retired tennis legend, speaking exclusively to Express Sport, praised Emma Raducanu for having her “priorities in the right place” following her recent coaching agreement with Mark Petchey ahead of the 2025 French Open. The legend, whose identity wasn’t disclosed, highlighted Raducanu’s renewed focus on consistency and long-term development, noting that her decision to reunite with Petchey reflects a mature approach to her career. This comes after Raducanu’s turbulent 2025 season, marked by a back injury, an early exit at the ASB Classic, and multiple coaching changes, including splits with Nick Cavaday and interim coach Tom Welsh.[](https://www.express.co.uk/sport/tennis/2057876/Emma-Raducanu-Chris-Evert-Mark-Petchey-exclusive)[](https://www.sportskeeda.com/tennis/news-emma-reducanu-takes-major-coaching-decision-ahead-indian-wells-recovers-dubai-stalker-scare)[](https://www.newsday.com/sports/tennis/raducanu-coach-tennis-m92889)
Petchey, who coached Raducanu during her junior years and briefly in 2022, is seen as a stabilizing force. The tennis legend emphasized that Raducanu’s priority to “keep playing and enjoy being on a tennis court” aligns with Petchey’s experience, having guided Andy Murray to major successes. Raducanu’s third-round performance at the Italian Open, where she pushed Iga Swiatek, shows progress, but her game still needs refinement, particularly her forehand, as Petchey noted earlier this year. Posts on X echoed this sentiment, with @DExpress_Sport highlighting the legend’s confidence in Raducanu’s mindset shift.[](https://www.thetennisgazette.com/opinion/emma-raducanu-has-open-door-to-make-brilliant-move-by-appointing-former-grand-slam-champion-as-her-new-coach/)[](https://metro.co.uk/2025/01/08/mark-petchey-makes-emma-raducanu-prediction-ahead-australian-open-2025-22316887/)
However, concerns linger about Petchey’s dual role as a Tennis Channel commentator, which may limit his availability, a point raised by critics like BBC’s Russell Fuller. The legend’s endorsement suggests Raducanu’s focus on stability and resilience could help her overcome these challenges and capitalize on her potential at Roland Garros.
