Emma Raducanu ‘keeping things informal’ with coach Mark Petchey as she returns to the Madrid Open
Emma Raducanu Embraces Informal Coaching Setup with Mark Petchey Ahead of Madrid Open
Emma Raducanu has decided to put the search for a full-time coach on hold, choosing instead to continue her part-time collaboration with Mark Petchey. The 22-year-old Brit says the current arrangement is working well and gives her the flexibility she needs.
Petchey, a respected figure in British tennis and former coach of Andy Murray, joined Raducanu’s team on an informal basis at the Miami Open last month. Under his guidance, Raducanu produced her best performance of the season, reaching the quarter-finals.
After Miami, Raducanu expressed interest in having Petchey take on a more permanent role, but his ongoing TV broadcasting duties have made that difficult. Nevertheless, Petchey will be back in her corner at this week’s Madrid Open, fitting her into his schedule where possible.
“I’m happy with the set-up going forward right now – it’s been working well,” said Raducanu, currently ranked World No. 49. “I like him a lot. I’ve known him since before the US Open, and it’s nice to have familiar faces around.”
Raducanu hasn’t had a full-time coach since January, when Nick Cavaday stepped down for health reasons. A short trial with Vladimir Platenik also ended before the Miami event. Over the years, she has worked with several coaches, including Nigel Sears, Andrew Richardson, Torben Beltz, Dmitry Tursunov, and Sebastian Sachs.
“We’re keeping things informal for now and it’s been working,” she added. “He’s someone I’ve known for a long time, and I feel I can trust him. There’s nothing set in stone—we’re taking it week by week, and he’s helping me as much as he can around his other commitments.”
Training in LA Over Billie Jean King Cup Duty
After Miami, Raducanu chose to skip Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup tie to complete a focused training block in Los Angeles. She worked with Petchey for 10 days before returning to Europe to prepare for the clay season.
Raducanu said she appreciated the thoughtful and stimulating nature of her discussions with Petchey during training and credited the relaxed environment for allowing her to play more freely.
“We created our own little bubble, and it was nice to work on my game while also enjoying the process,” she said. “He’s helped me both on and off the court, constantly challenging me mentally, which I really enjoy.”
In addition to her training, Raducanu found time to unwind, taking hikes in the LA mountains and even attending yoga classes in Madrid—part of her effort to maintain a balanced lifestyle.
“I’m happy with how I’m feeling on court right now. I did some great work, and I’m looking forward to seeing how it holds up in matches,” she said.
Return to Competition in Madrid
Raducanu will face Suzan Lamens of the Netherlands in the first round of the Madrid Open later this week. It will be her first match since her quarterfinal loss to World No. 3 Jessica Pegula in Miami on March 27.
“I had a long start to the year with a lot of weeks back-to-back,” Raducanu explained. “My body and mind needed a bit of a recharge. With the switch to clay, I didn’t feel ready to change surfaces in back-to-back weeks.”
Now refreshed and recharged, Raducanu is set to test her clay-court game—backed by a coach she trusts, even if things remain unofficial for now.
