Mark Petchey, who coached Emma Raducanu during Wimbledon last year, believes the British No. 1 should be a challenging player to coach because of the extraordinary things she aims to achieve. Speaking exclusively to Express Sport, Petchey described their relationship as phenomenal and marked by huge mutual respect.
Petchey praises Raducanu's dedication
Petchey worked informally with Raducanu, 23, as recently as Indian Wells after she split with Francisco Roig. She spent much of last year being coached by him on a similar basis following Nick Cavaday's departure from her team due to health reasons. Petchey combines this ad hoc arrangement with his role as a commentator on the Tennis Channel, which prevents full-time commitment.
“I like working with Emma; she's an awesome tennis player, so that's number one. She and I have had a phenomenal relationship. It should be challenging because you're trying to achieve extraordinary things. We have a huge mutual respect for her. When I've been on the court with her, I've never, ever come off it feeling like she hasn't given herself or me the best possibility to improve,” Petchey said.
Advice to ignore critics
Petchey advised Raducanu to stop worrying about public opinion, noting the intense scrutiny she faces. “If there's one thing that I try to say to her is stop worrying about what other people are saying. I don't give a s*** what people say about me, but it's a lot harder when you're in the spotlight and magnified like everything that she does.” He emphasized that she should follow her own path, saying, “You know what works for you, you know what gets you excited, do those things, and when you get to the start gate for all the tournaments, just be the best prepared you can be.”
Approval of reunion with Andrew Richardson
Petchey supports Raducanu's latest coaching hire, a reunion with Andrew Richardson, who coached her during her 2021 US Open win. “I love it. It's potentially going to be great, and it's a place where she can go back to with awesome memories. 'Flex' did a great job with her over that period; they had ultimate success. I love that they're back communicating and together,” Petchey said. He hopes the partnership will succeed and end speculation about her decision to part ways with Richardson after the US Open. “But what will be good is that if it doesn't work, that part of it can go away, and everyone can stop saying, 'Well, she should never have gotten rid of him.'”
