Emma Raducanu has been told by former coach Mark Petchey that she can win more Grand Slam titles — but only if she stops worrying about her critics and chases happiness rather than ranking points.
Petchey, who coached Raducanu early in her career, believes the British No. 1 can thrive again if she works with Andrew Richardson, the coach who guided her to her surprise 2021 US Open triumph. The former coach emphasized that Raducanu needs to find joy on the court, not obsess over external expectations.
The 2021 US Open champion has struggled with consistency since her breakthrough, battling injuries and changing coaches multiple times. Petchey's comments come as Raducanu looks to rebuild her game and rediscover the form that made her a sensation at age 18.
Raducanu currently sits at No. 289 in the WTA rankings, a far cry from her career-high of No. 10. To return to the winner's circle, Petchey argues, she must focus on her own motivations rather than the noise around her.
While Petchey's advice has merit, some analysts counter that Raducanu has already worked with Richardson after her US Open win with limited success, and that a coach alone cannot solve the physical and tactical adjustments needed to compete at the top level.