Andy Murray’s old coach has ‘big concern’ about Emma Raducanu ‘she may disagree with’
Former British tennis star Mark Petchey has raised fresh concerns over Emma Raducanu’s form, despite her recent third-round appearance at the Australian Open. The 2021 US Open champion, who has faced numerous injury setbacks, displayed flashes of brilliance in Melbourne but soon after suffered a first-round exit at the Singapore Open.
Petchey, who previously coached Andy Murray, has long supported Raducanu despite her struggles since her remarkable triumph at Flushing Meadows. However, the 54-year-old now believes her game has regressed, particularly when it comes to her serve.
“For the first time, when I watched her in Australia, I didn’t really like her tennis,” Petchey told JeffBet. “Emma’s serve, even from the first round, looked a bit awkward, and I’ve never thought that about her game before. That’s my biggest concern. I’m not worried about her athleticism because she’s a great athlete, but losing confidence in your serve can be a huge mental hurdle.”
Petchey noted that Raducanu’s confidence on the court seems to be fading, especially in her serve, which is a crucial shot in tennis. He warned that if she continues to struggle with this aspect of her game, it could become a long-term issue.
Despite Raducanu’s best Grand Slam run since her US Open win being her last-16 appearance at Wimbledon in 2024, her only career title remains that breakthrough victory in New York. Petchey believes the key to her future success lies in revisiting what worked so well for her at the 2021 US Open.
“If I were Emma, I’d go back and watch her 2021 matches and try to recreate that level, especially with her forehand and backhand,” Petchey suggested. “I haven’t seen much improvement technically in her rallies, and I think there’s more work to be done there.”
He also advised Raducanu to reflect on her defeat to Iga Swiatek at the Australian Open, where she managed to win just one game against the world No. 2. Petchey stressed that Raducanu shouldn’t dismiss the loss as just a bad day but should instead focus on addressing the areas in her game that need improvement.
Raducanu has recently confirmed her participation in the qualifying rounds for the Abu Dhabi Open, after accepting a wildcard entry. This will mark the first time the 22-year-old has entered the qualifiers for a WTA Tour event. This development follows her split with coach Nick Cavaday earlier in January.
