Emma Raducanu is back in action at the Madrid Open after taking a short break from competition. The British No. 2 had not played since reaching the quarter-finals of the Miami Open nearly a month ago, opting to withdraw from two tournaments to focus on a 10-day training block in Los Angeles.
Ahead of her return to the court, the 22-year-old spoke candidly about her decision to take time off and gave an update on her coaching situation. While reports suggested that Raducanu was looking to bring Mark Petchey onto her team full-time, she confirmed that their arrangement remains “informal” for now.
“I’ve realised now that less is more for me sometimes,” Raducanu told Sky Sports. “I work really intensely and can definitely be guilty of overdoing it. Now, it’s about making sure I give 100% while I’m on the court, and then switching off properly afterwards.”
Raducanu’s decision to skip Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup ties and the WTA event in Rouen wasn’t easy. However, she recognised the importance of managing her workload in a packed tennis calendar. “People need matches, yes, but sometimes you need space too,” she said. “After Miami, I knew I needed some time off.”
In Miami, Raducanu was supported by Mark Petchey and her long-time mentor Jane O’Donoghue, and she will continue with the same team in Madrid. Her brief coaching trial with Vladimir Platenik ended after Indian Wells.
“We haven’t made anything formal. It’s pretty informal for now, but it’s going really well,” Raducanu said of working with Petchey, a former coach of Andy Murray. “He’s someone I feel I can trust because I’ve known him so long. It’s nice to be around someone I’m comfortable with.”
Beyond the technical aspects, Petchey has also been helping Raducanu find a better balance between work and relaxation. “It was great to work with Mark. Not just on court, but off it too—we have really thought-provoking conversations. It’s a perfect balance of hard work and being relaxed.”
Raducanu will start her Madrid Open campaign against world No. 73 Suzan Lamens, who recently defeated fellow Brit Katie Boulter and reached the semi-finals in Rouen.
