Emma Raducanu is preparing to reunite with a familiar face ahead of the prestigious WTA 1000 tournament in Indian Wells, despite her recent public statements indicating she wasn't looking for another coach. The British tennis sensation, currently ranked world number 25, is expected to work with former mentor Mark Petchey on an informal basis during the California event.
Informal Coaching Arrangement Returns
This marks the second consecutive year that Raducanu finds herself without a formal coach heading into the spring season. Following her recent amicable split from Francisco Roig last month after the Australian Open, Raducanu has been traveling with hitting partner Alexis Canter and physiotherapist Emma Stewart. Roig represented her ninth coaching change in just five years since her breakthrough US Open victory.
Previous Successful Partnership
Raducanu and Petchey previously enjoyed an informal working relationship last year when the tennis star was in a similar coaching situation. Their casual partnership began during the Miami Open, where Raducanu remarkably reached the quarter-finals. They maintained this ad hoc arrangement throughout the clay and grass court seasons before Petchey stepped back to focus on his commentary duties with Tennis Channel.
"Right now I wouldn't say I'm actively looking for a coach," Raducanu recently told the Guardian. "Right now I have Alexis in my corner. He knows me as a person. He knows me as a player."
Recent Form and Challenges
Despite her coaching situation, Raducanu has shown promising form recently. She reached the final in Cluj earlier this month, marking her first championship match appearance since her historic 2021 US Open triumph. However, she picked up an illness during that tournament and subsequently struggled in Middle Eastern events, retiring in Doha and losing her opening match in Dubai.
Petchey confirmed they had been in contact following her Cluj performance, telling Tennis Channel's Big T Podcast: "We've messaged a few times. I did watch her play. It was nice to see her get some wins, it was nice to see some confidence, it was nice to see the fight was back. She was playing the way she wants to play, that was something, I think, she felt that she had lost a little bit in recent times."
Familiar Faces Preferred
The 2021 US Open champion has demonstrated a clear preference for working with individuals who knew her before her Flushing Meadows breakthrough. Petchey perfectly fits this description, having worked with Raducanu during her developmental years. This reunion represents a return to familiar territory for the British star as she navigates the demanding WTA tour schedule.
It remains uncertain whether Petchey will continue working with Raducanu beyond Indian Wells, particularly for the Miami Open that follows as part of the prestigious 'Sunshine Double.' The informal nature of their arrangement allows both parties flexibility while providing Raducanu with the guidance she seeks without committing to another formal coaching relationship.
Raducanu's approach reflects her evolving perspective on team composition, favoring trusted collaborators over traditional coaching structures as she continues her comeback trajectory on the professional tennis circuit.
