Emma Raducanu, the 22-year-old British tennis star and 2021 US Open champion, has been urged by her former coach Mark Petchey to focus on three key objectives for the remainder of 2025: climbing into the WTA top 30 during the Asian swing, achieving greater consistency in her performances, and unlocking the full potential of her serve. Petchey’s advice, shared in a September 16, 2025, interview with BetVictor, comes as Raducanu, currently ranked No. 33, prepares for the Korea Open in Seoul (September 15-21), her first tournament since a third-round US Open exit to Elena Rybakina. The guidance reflects Petchey’s belief in Raducanu’s talent but underscores the need for targeted improvements to build on her promising 2025 resurgence and set the stage for a strong 2026.
## Goal 1: Climb into the Top 30 During the Asian Swing
Petchey emphasized the importance of Raducanu capitalizing on the Asian hard-court events to boost her ranking, noting she has minimal points to defend in the coming weeks. “If I was Emma, I’d have three targets,” Petchey said. “The first is getting into the top 30 during the Asian swing.” Raducanu will drop 108 points at the Korea Open but has none to defend at the subsequent China Open (September 24-30) or Wuhan Open (October 7-13), providing an opportunity to gain ground.
Starting the year at No. 60, Raducanu has climbed to No. 33 through consistent deep runs, including a semifinal at the Citi Open in Washington and third-round appearances at three majors. A top-30 ranking would secure her a seeding at Grand Slams, avoiding early clashes with top players like Iga Swiatek (whom she lost to at the Australian Open and French Open) and Aryna Sabalenka (Wimbledon). “She’s just outside seeding, and that’s been an Achilles’ heel,” Petchey noted, referencing her US Open loss to ninth seed Rybakina. With 280 points available at Seoul for the winner, a strong showing could propel her upward, especially under new coach Francisco Roig, who joined post-Cincinnati on a trial basis.
Goal 2: Strive for Greater Consistency
Petchey’s second target is for Raducanu to build consistency, a recurring theme in her career since her breakthrough US Open win. “Consistency is key,” he said. “She’s shown flashes, but needs to string together more deep runs.” Raducanu’s 2025 has been marked by promise—32 wins overall and a career-high No. 34 post-US Open—but marred by early exits in Montreal and Cincinnati, where she lost in the second round.
Petchey, who coached Raducanu informally from March to August 2025 before her switch to Roig (Rafael Nadal’s former coach), praised her progress: “She’s an unbelievable athlete who’d back herself in most situations.” However, he highlighted the need to maintain form across surfaces, especially after her Wimbledon third round (loss to Sabalenka) and US Open showing. Skipping the Billie Jean King Cup Finals for Seoul aligns with this goal, allowing focus on WTA points without the team event’s distractions. “The schedule is brutal, but consistency will get her back to the top,” Petchey added.
Goal 3: Unlock Her Serving Potential
Petchey’s final advice centers on Raducanu’s serve, which he believes has untapped potential. “She needs to keep working on her serve and make it the best it can be, within the natural restrictions of physics and geometry,” he said. Raducanu’s serve, a weapon in her 2021 US Open run (averaging 75% first-serve points won), has been inconsistent due to wrist surgeries in 2023 and ongoing tweaks.
In 2025, she’s experimented with strings and tensions, as confirmed by Tennis365 sources. At the US Open, her serve held up in early wins over Ena Shibahara and Janice Tjen but faltered against Rybakina (42% first-serve points won). Petchey, who worked with Andy Murray, sees room for improvement: “All she can do is keep working on it.” Roig’s expertise, honed with Nadal’s serve, could elevate it, potentially adding 5-10% efficiency and turning it into a dominant tool against power players like Swiatek and Sabalenka.
Petchey’s Context and Raducanu’s 2025 Journey
Petchey, who briefly coached Raducanu in 2020 and reunited in March 2025 for Miami (where she reached quarters), parted ways after Wimbledon due to his broadcasting commitments with TNT Sports. “We’re keeping things informal,” Raducanu said at the time, but his influence persists. Petchey’s goals align with Raducanu’s aims: a top-20 return and major contention. Her 2025 includes a Washington semifinal and three major third rounds, but injuries and coaching changes have hindered consistency.
The Korea Open opener against Jaqueline Cristian, delayed by rain to September 17, offers a chance to start strong. With no points to defend post-Seoul, a deep run could achieve Petchey’s top-30 target. As Raducanu eyes the China and Wuhan Opens, Petchey’s roadmap—ranking climb, consistency, and serve refinement—provides a clear path to reclaiming her elite status.
Fans on X support the focus: “Petchey’s three goals for Emma are spot on—top 30, consistency, serve power. She’s got this! #Raducanu” (@TheTennisLetter). With Roig’s guidance, Raducanu’s final 2025 push could set up a breakthrough year.
