Emma Raducanu In Discussions With Andy Murray's Ex-Coach About Full-Time Role
News
Emma Raducanu's wait for a permanent coach could end soon. She is in talks with Andy Murray's former coach, Mark Petchey.
Raducanu has been working with various figures in short-term capacities since Nick Cavaday left his role as her full-time coach after the 2025 Australian Open due to health and family reasons.
The 2021 US Open champion had a trial period with Vladamir Platenik, but decided to part ways with him after just 14 days, shortly before the 2025 Miami Open. Despite this, the Slovakian feels he improved her game during that period.
Platenik might have felt vindicated by Raducanu's performances in Miami. During her impressive run to that stage, she reached the quarterfinal, beating Emma Navarro and Amanda Anisimova.
However, Petchey supported Raducanu in Miami, alongside her mentor Jane O'Donoghue. The Briton looked comfortable with him on and off the court, and Petchey was not shy about giving instructions during her matches when he felt it necessary.
The BBC reported that Raducanu is considering hiring Petchey full-time. Her team is currently talking to him, but there is no indication yet about whether or when a deal might be completed.
After a career in which he reached a high of world No. 80, Petchey worked with Andy Murray as a teenager. The three-time Grand Slam champion won his first ATP title while under Petchey's guidance.
Despite proving himself to be a good coach, Petchey has not worked with a professional player full-time for many years. He regularly appears on the Tennis Channel and previously worked as a commentator for Sky Sports.
Therefore, he needs to consider carefully the prospect of stepping back into the demands of full-time coaching. The schedule's demands on players understandably get the most attention, but it is also challenging for coaches.
Petchey needs to decide if he can accept being away from his family for extended periods and navigate the grueling schedule. Some, like Boris Becker, have not fully committed to coaching because of those demands.
Although success is never guaranteed in any player/coach relationship, it feels like stability would be ideal for Raducanu right now. She has been through an extraordinary number of coaches over the years for someone still just 22 years old.
Since stunning the tennis world by splitting with Andrew Richardson just a few weeks after he helped her win the US Open, Raducanu has worked with Torben Beltz, Dmitry Tursunov, Sebastian Sachs, and Cavaday.
Her collaborations with Richardson, Beltz, Tursunov, and Sachs only lasted a few months. However, she worked with Cavaday for over a year and seemed genuinely disappointed when he stepped back from the role.
Raducanu's results in Miami with Petchey in her corner might make him confident that he can succeed as her coach and help the WTA star to find the consistency that has been elusive in the last few years.
Petchey has been one of Raducanu's most prominent defenders in the media. Last year, he backed her to win more Grand Slams when she is fit and playing her best.
