Retired tennis great weighs in on latest addition to Emma Raducanu’s team – ‘A net positive for her’
Four-time Grand Slam champion Jim Courier believes Mark Petchey’s involvement with Emma Raducanu is a “net positive,” as the British star gears up for Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
Raducanu informally added Petchey — a respected tennis commentator and former world No. 80 — to her team during the Miami Open, where she impressively reached the quarterfinals.
Petchey, who previously coached Andy Murray into the top 50 before parting ways in 2006, has also had a brief stint coaching Maria Sakkari.
Courier, now a prominent analyst, discussed the new collaboration on Tennis Channel:
“When COVID-19 hit, they trained together privately in the UK, so he knew her before she became a global name. That’s important, especially since she’s struggled to maintain long-term coaching relationships. Trust is key, and having someone from before her fame is invaluable.”
Courier hopes the partnership continues, at least through the upcoming grass-court season:
“I don’t know how long it will last, but spending time with someone familiar right now is critical. Hopefully, they stick together through the summer.”
The timing of Petchey’s addition is notable, as clay courts — not Raducanu’s strongest surface — are currently in focus. She’s lost 9 of her 20 career matches on clay.
Courier added:
“No one expects her to dominate on clay; it’s not her natural surface. Grass is where she first made headlines — reaching Wimbledon’s fourth round before her US Open win. For me, this is all about laying the groundwork for the grass season.”
He also pointed out a technical tweak:
“Petchey’s already modified her serve, adding more shoulder rotation for better disguise and extra power. Overall, this is a net positive for her in many ways.”
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Raducanu initially worked with Petchey back in 2020 and has gone through several coaches since, most recently parting ways with Vladimir Platenik after a brief two-week trial.
Speaking about her current situation, Raducanu said:
“Nothing is formal yet; it’s an informal setup, but it’s working well. Mark’s someone I trust and feel comfortable around. I’m still figuring out what works best for me.”
Reflecting on her clay transition, she added:
“It wasn’t an ideal start to the season, but I needed rest and time to adapt to clay, a surface I’m not very familiar with. I believe in the future it can become a strength — I just need more time.”
On her work with Petchey:
“We’ve had great training sessions, but it’s not just about tennis. We have interesting, thought-provoking conversations off-court too. It’s been a perfect balance.”
Following her second-round loss to Marta Kostyuk in Madrid, Raducanu will next compete at the WTA 1000 event in Rome.
