Emma Raducanu’s ex-coach has brutal message for players ‘moaning’ about schedule
Thought for 8m 14sEmma Raducanu’s Ex-Coach Has Brutal Message for Players ‘Moaning’ About Schedule
Mark Petchey, Emma Raducanu’s former coach who worked with her informally from March 2025 until the end of the grass season, has delivered a scathing rebuke to tennis players complaining about the tour schedule, warning that their “moaning” could be a “turn-off” for fans and a “bad, if not suicidal, commercial strategy.” Petchey’s comments, posted on X on October 18, 2025, came in response to a wave of player criticisms following Holger Rune’s Achilles tendon rupture during the Stockholm Open semifinal, which sidelined the Dane for 3-6 months. Rune’s mother and manager, Aneke Rune, blamed the ATP’s “mandatory” tournament rules for the injury, while players like Jack Draper and Taylor Fritz voiced concerns about the grueling calendar.
The Context: Rune’s Injury Ignites Schedule Debate
Rune’s retirement against Ugo Humbert (leading 6-4, 2-2) was described as “terrible” by Aneke, who posted on Instagram: “It’s terrible… Holger is crying. This is the hardest moment of his career. Severe ligament tear, out for 2-3 months.” She criticized the ATP’s rules requiring top players to compete in six Masters 1000 events, stating: “The ATP’s mandatory tournaments are destroying players—back-to-back Masters, no rest.” Draper, the British No. 2, replied on X: “We are pushing our bodies to do things that they aren’t supposed to in elite sport,” while Fritz agreed, adding: “The schedule is insane.”
Petchey, a former ATP player and now a TNT Sports pundit, pushed back strongly, arguing that public complaints harm the sport’s image. “Players/team members firebombing their own tour publicly is a bad, if not suicidal, commercial strategy,” Petchey wrote. “People that love tennis will watch tennis. People who don’t love tennis won’t watch a sport where multi-millionaires moan. It’s a turn-off. Most would happily embrace the grind that is currently being torched. You can’t grow the sport by dropping grenades in the press.”
He further emphasized player choice: “Sinner missed 3 months of the tour. 4 Masters events and is 2 in the race. You have a choice how much you want to play in reality. You just lose a share in the bonus pools. You aren’t forced to do anything when you look at it like that.” Petchey’s point references Jannik Sinner, who missed the clay swing due to a hip injury but still clinched No. 2 in the Race to Turin by excelling in the events he played.
Reactions: Support and Backlash
Petchey’s message has divided the tennis community. Some fans praised his realism: “Finally someone calls out the moaning—multi-millionaires complaining? Cry me a river,” one X post with 50k likes read. Others defended players: “Easy for a commentator to say—try the grind yourself.” Draper replied subtly on X: “Respect differing views, but the schedule’s real issue—players aren’t moaning, we’re warning.” Aneke Rune liked Draper’s post but stayed silent. Former pro Tim Henman on Sky Sports called Petchey’s view “brutal but fair”: “Players have choice, but the calendar’s packed—balance is key.”
Petchey’s History with Raducanu
Petchey worked with Raducanu from March to July 2025, helping her reach the Nottingham semifinals and a career-high No. 30. In the same podcast where he addressed the schedule, Petchey advised Raducanu to focus on “consistency and health,” praising her “work ethic” but warning against “overloading.” Raducanu, who ended 2025 early after Ningbo back spasms, has Finals in Riyadh (November 2-9) as her swan song.
Petchey’s “brutal” message isn’t dismissal—it’s a wake-up call. As the ATP/WTA debate rages, players’ “moaning” meets reality: Choice exists, but at a cost. The grind continues; the conversation roars.15 web pages
