Emma Raducanu's Next Coach Could Be Mark Petchey

Reporting indicates Emma Raducanu is interested in keeping Mark Petchey on as her next coach.

Emma Raducanu is in discussions with Mark Petchey to fill the role as her head coach. | IMAGO / MediaPunch

After advancing to the Miami Open quarterfinal, Emma Raducanu said she was going to "take a beat and re-evaluate" her situation. The top priority would be filling the vacant role of head coach.

According to Russell Fuller of the BBC, Raducanu is in discussions with Mark Petchey about appointing him as her new coach.

Petchey was in Raducanu's coaching box alongside Jane O'Donoghue at the Miami Open.

Mark Petchey watches Emma Raducanu play Jessica Pegula in the Miami Open. | IMAGO / MediaPunch

Raducanu attributed much of her success to the her new-look staff at the Miami Open. She said of her circle, "I have some really good people around me who I trust and who I have fun with off the court as well, and that's extremely important."

Finding the right staff has been an ongoing issue for the one-time Grand Slam champion. Raducanu is in search of the eighth coach of her professional career. 

In addition to Petchey and O'Donoghue, Colin Beecher, and full-time fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura are in Raducanu's corner.

According to the BBC's reporting, the biggest impediment to Petchey taking over as Raducanu's coach is his current commentary role with the Tennis Channel.

Emma Raducanu is in discussions with Mark Petchey to fill the role as her next head coach. | IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire

In addition to television commentary, Petchey is a former top-100 player with coaching experience. Petchey coached British star Andy Murray for ten months early in his career and made a strong impression while training with Raducanu in the Summer of 2020.

Raducanu has not had a full-time head coach since January, when Nick Cavaday stepped away from his coach duties due to health reasons.

More recently, Vladimir Platenik had an unsuccessful two-week trial that ended the night before the Miami Open.

Emma Raducanu pulled out of the 2025 Billie Jean King Cup qualifying tournament in April. | IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire

Platenik's tenure as Raducanu's coach was always framed as a trial period, but most expected the arrangement to last more than two weeks, especially during the middle of the Sunshine Double.

After the Miami Open, Raducanu cracked the top-50 and is currently the WTA World No. 47 with a record of 7-7.

Earlier this month, Raducanu pulled out of representing Great Britain in the 2025 Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers. She remains undecided on playing the Madrid Open later this month.

However, Raducanu is expected to compete at this month's Italian Open in Rome before the French Open begins in late May.

Tennis fans can follow Sports Illustrated's Serve on SI for all the most important news from the sport.

More Tennis News

Carlos Alcaraz survives Arthur Fils in the Monte Carlo quarterfinal.

Watch Carlos Alcaraz drop a dirty tweener in his Monte-Carlo Masters win.

Carlos Alcaraz said he is "happy" with his game this year and does not think the criticism is fair.

Novak Djokovic apologized for his "horrible" loss at the Monte-Carlo Masters.

Alexander Zverev on Monte Carlo loss: "No idea what's happening to me."