Emma Raducanu’s Coach Points to Heavy Tennis Balls for French Open Struggles
Emma Raducanu’s interim coach, Mark Petchey, attributed her second-round exit at the 2025 French Open to heavier tennis balls, which he claims have hindered her ability to compete against top players like Iga Swiatek, per BBC.com. This explanation, met with skepticism, underscores Raducanu’s challenges in regaining her 2021 US Open form, mirroring the resilience of athletes like Coco Gauff, who navigates pressure with humor and grit.
Petchey’s Heavy Ball Claim
Following Raducanu’s 6-1, 6-2 loss to Swiatek on May 28, 2025, Petchey told TNT Sports, “The balls are four times heavier than back in 2021, and Emma isn’t the biggest hitter out there,” exaggerating to emphasize their impact on clay, per BBC.com. He argued that on windy, heavy clay courts, Raducanu struggles to drive the ball through against power players like Swiatek, who has 23 straight Roland Garros wins, per Telegraph.co.uk. Petchey noted similar issues in Raducanu’s 6-1, 6-2 defeat to Coco Gauff in Rome two weeks prior, suggesting a pattern, per Tennis365.com. Posts on X, like @JohnBarry_, criticized the claim, with some dismissing it as an excuse for Raducanu’s lack of elite-level competitiveness, per.[]
**Raducanu’s 2025 French Open Performance**
Raducanu, ranked No. 41, started strongly, defeating Wang Xinyu 6-2, 6-4 in the first round, but was outclassed by Swiatek, managing only three winners and facing 10 break points, per RolandGarros.com. She admitted feeling “exposed” on Court Philippe-Chatrier, citing discomfort with the large court and Swiatek’s confidence, per GBNews.com. Her 13-11 season record, with a third-round Australian Open loss to Swiatek, reflects progress but a persistent gap against top-five players (1-9 career record), per BBC.com. Petchey defended her work ethic, saying, “She’s put in a full-day shift every time,” countering myths about her commitment, per Independent.com.
**Context of Ball Weight Concerns**
Raducanu herself raised concerns about ball weight in March 2024, telling The US Sun that frequent ball changes on the WTA tour exacerbate wrist issues, especially post her 2023 wrist and ankle surgeries, per TheSun.com. She noted, “It’s really bad for us, the way we have to switch balls every week,” a view echoed by Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek, who cited adaptation challenges, per Tennis365.com. While tennis balls haven’t quadrupled in weight—standard balls remain around 56-59 grams—Dunlop clay balls feel heavier due to fluff and clay accumulation, per Tennis365.com. Petchey’s exaggeration highlights Raducanu’s struggle to generate power (110 mph serve, 93 mph second serve) compared to Swiatek’s heavier shots, per Wikipedia.org.[
Raducanu’s Broader Challenges
Petchey, coaching Raducanu informally since March 2025 after Nick Cavaday’s health-related exit, emphasized a long-term rebuild, saying, “Everyone is living in 2021… I want people to judge her in two years,” per BBC.com. Raducanu’s eighth coach in her career, Petchey has faced scrutiny, with Caroline Wozniacki noting her unconventional US Open win complicates development, per Telegraph.co.uk. Her 2023 surgeries and 2025 coaching instability, including a one-match split with Vladimir Platenik, add to her challenges, per DailyMail.co.uk. Raducanu’s confidence, dented since her US Open title, was evident in her Australian Open loss to Swiatek, per Sportskeeda.com.[
-Parallels to Resilience
Petchey’s defense mirrors Coco Gauff’s historic third-round run with Pegula and Keys, where Venus Williams praised her “attitude,” per CNN.com. Gauff’s humorous Alcaraz DM anecdote shows levity under pressure, like Raducanu’s push despite setbacks, per Sportskeeda.com. Luke Littler’s vow to “break records” after his 11-8 darts final loss on May 29, 2025, and Jack Draper’s loneliness confession reflect similar perseverance, per Express.co.uk. Aryna Sabalenka’s Djokovic defense further highlights athletes overcoming scrutiny, per Express.co.uk.
**Conclusion**
Mark Petchey blamed heavier tennis balls for Emma Raducanu’s 6-1, 6-2 French Open loss to Iga Swiatek on May 28, 2025, arguing they hinder her on clay, per BBC.com. Raducanu’s struggles, tied to power deficits and coaching turnover, persist, but Petchey sees a two-year rebuild, per Tennis365.com. Like Gauff’s grit, Littler’s ambition, Draper’s candor, and Sabalenka’s passion, Raducanu’s effort endures. She prepares for Wimbledon’s grass courts, with Petchey, live on TNT Sports.[]
