Emma Raducanu has been lauded by Andy Murray's former coach, Mark Petchey, who revealed she was one of the best players he has worked with.
Raducanu was not widely known to the tennis world before her stunning run to the US Open title as an 18-year-old in 2021, but Petchey worked with her as a younger teenager.
The 54-year-old coached Raducanu while she was doing her GCSEs, the primary qualification for 14 to 16-year-olds in Great Britain. Raducanu had moved on to other coaches before winning the US Open.
Things have not been straightforward for Raducanu since unexpectedly claiming a Grand Slam. She has not reached a final since, struggling with a combination of form and fitness issues.
Raducanu missed nearly nine months of the 2023 season with wrist and ankle injuries. She recently admitted to a mistake that increased her time on the sidelines.
The 21-year-old returned this year after having surgery on both injuries. One of her highlights in 2024 was producing two outstanding performances on clay to lead Team Great Britain to an upset away from home against France in the Billie Jean King Cup.
However, she has been inconsistent throughout the season and was also criticized by Andy Roddick and others for choosing not to play a match for over three weeks before the US Open.
Unfortunately, Raducanu sustained another injury in the Korea Open quarterfinal in September. She has not played since, having sprained ligaments in her foot, but the Briton still hopes to be fit for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals.
Raducanu's recent struggles have not made Petchey forget how much he enjoyed working with her when she was a teenager. He described the qualities of the former US Open champion in comments made to Bally Casino.
"In the 10 months we worked together, I was even more impressed by her application, desire, and her inquisitive nature to learn about the game. She's stubborn in certain areas which is a great quality in tennis, you need that."
"You need to have a certain self-reliance; you need to be able to put things to one side and entertain thoughts that you don't necessarily always need to implement into your game, but you must consider things."
"I can only talk from my experiences, but she was one of the best players that I've ever had as a tennis coach and I wish her the very best."
Petchey also thinks she should ignore all those who have opinions about her. Raducanu has spoken in the past about trying to manage the heightened attention on her since winning the US Open.
"I think everyone's going to have an opinion on her and broadcast it, but people are trying to insert themselves into her shoes which they have never worn before, even in their own career or life. But it is easy to say these things from the outside looking in."
"When she won the US Open back in 2021, no blueprint or manual could explain what was going to happen in her life or career after that breakthrough moment."