- Raducanu has reportedly agreed to continue working with her current helper
- Murray named her as one of his dream players to coach in an interview in 2022
Emma Raducanu has reportedly anointed Mark Petchey as her coach for the grass court season after an impressive partnership so far.
The 22-year-old is set to go into Wimbledon with the man who has helped her to eight wins in 11 matches in two months.
It comes as a blow to Andy Murray’s hopes of an immediate return to coaching with Raducanu after his split with Novak Djokovic on Tuesday.
Murray named Raducanu as his dream women’s player to work with in 2022 but kicked off his coaching career with a six-month stint helping Djokovic.
But Raducanu, who also worked with Petchey in the summer of 2020, would like to extend her progress with her current aide as per The Telegraph. Coincidentally, Petchy used to coach Murray.
Petchey is her eighth trainer in four years but has helped the youngster relax on an ad-hoc basis, putting emphasis on fun warm-ups such as spikeball or football.
Emma Raducanu has reportedly agreed for Mark Petchey to continue coaching her
Petchey has overseen a run of eight wins in 11 matches in the two months he has been with her
It comes as a blow to Andy Murray, who on Tuesday split from Novak Djokovic
Raducanu made it to the quarter-finals of the Miami Open in March and has been playing some of her best tennis of recent years under Petchey.
Petchey, 54, is employed by the Tennis Channel but they do not have the rights to Wimbledon, meaning he should be free to work with Raducanu on her favourite surface this summer.
But his TV commitments could prevent a more serious, permanent position being taken up with Raducanu.
As for Murray, he finds himself looking for a new gig just six weeks before Wimbledon, where Raducanu ended his SW19 career by pulling out of the doubles arrangement last summer.
He Murray stunned the tennis world in November by announcing he would be coaching his old rival, but results tailed off after a positive start.
‘Thanks to Novak for the unbelievable opportunity to work together,’ said Murray. ‘And thanks to his team for all their hard work over the past six months. I wish Novak all the best for the rest of the season.’
Djokovic said: ‘Thank you, coach Andy, for all the hard work, fun & support over last six months on & off the court, really enjoyed deepening our friendship together.’
After a 10-day pre-season training camp in Marbella last winter, Murray’s first tournament in the coaching box was the Australian Open.
Murray, who Petchy used to coach, named Raducanu as one of his dream players to work with
The retired star worked with Novak Djokovic for six months but they have split amicably
Raducanu, who prefers the grass surface, has the potential for a deep run at Wimbledon
Djokovic played some of his best tennis of the last 12 months in reaching the semi-finals, when a muscular tear forced him to retire against Alexander Zverev.
But since Melbourne, Djokovic has lost his first match in four of his five events, the exception being a run to the final in Miami, where he was beaten in straight sets by Jakub Mensik.
