Emma Raducanu is at ease with Mark Petchey’s dual role her coach and a commentator while the 2021 US Open winner also revealed she is hoping to “have a conversation” with Andy Murray.
The 22-year-old first teamed up with Petchey during the Miami Open and they had instant success as she took out two seeded players to reach the quarter-finals of a WTA 1000 event for the first time while she also made it to the fourth round of the Italian Open.
Petchey, of course, has a good track record as a coach as he mentored a young Murray to climb into the top 50 of the ATP Rankings early in his career and many believe he is the man to Raducanu back up the rankings.
But he is currently also be working as a commentator and will do some work during the French Open with many worried it could have a negative impact on Raducanu.
However, the world No 41 is happy with their arrangement as she feels Jane O’Donaghue and Tom Walsh will be of great assistance when Petchey is unavailable.
“It completely depends on the schedule that he gets here, I knew that going into it,” she stated.
“I think for him it’s a great opportunity to keep doing what he does so well and at the same time have fun hopefully being on court with me. I have Tom here who is going to help and Jane, when he isn’t available. And that’s how it’s going to go.
“I think being a lot more self-sufficient is something Mark has helped me with the last few weeks. Since Miami I think one thing that is a great sign of a coach is when you don’t necessarily feel like you need them every shot, every point, so he’s really helped me to figure things out for myself.”
The last time they spoke was at Wimbledon in 2024 when they were due to team up in the mixed doubles before Raducanu withdrew as she wanted to focus on the singles.
It became a hot topic of debate as it was Murray’s last Wimbledon event and Raducanu is hoping to chat with the three-time Grand Slam winner.
“I hope he’s forgiven me for last year, I still feel bad about it,” she said. “I’m looking forward to seeing him around and having a conversation
“I think he would give great advice, he’s been in a similar situation and would probably understand a lot of things that I’m also going through. But as to anything more, I don’t know, that’s very far out of thought.”
