Emma Raducanu has received support from a former coach who believes she has the attitude and athleticism to win more majors.
Mark Petchey, who is both a former coach of Raducanu and three-time Grand Slam champion, Andy Murray, says she ‘will give everything to tennis’ in a recent interview.
Raducanu’s rise to fame in the world of tennis was somewhat spectacular. The young Brit burst onto the main tour in 2021, winning the US Open at her first attempt.
In doing so, she made history, becoming the first qualifier to ever win a Grand Slam. The title also came with the added pressure and expectation of what she would do next.
Since then, Raducanu has struggled to find the same form, made worse by a series of injuries. The 21-year-old underwent minor surgery on both hands and an ankle in May 2023 which kept her out of action for eight months.
Now, with Raducanu back on the Tour, former coach Petchey believes she is showing promising signs.
“She is moving well,” said Petchey.
“She’s probably one of the best athletes out there on the tour right now. She moves phenomenally well, I don’t think we talk about it enough. If the game is there, then the athleticism backs up.”
Raducanu has won three of her seven games so far in 2024, and has returned to childhood coach Nick Cavaday for guidance. After switching coaching staff five times in two years, Petchey hopes it will provide some necessary stability to Raducanu’s game.
“I personally would like to see a little bit more consistency in her team,” he said.
“But the one thing I will say about Emma is the 10 months that I spent with her, there was not a day, there was not a minute that she didn’t put in. Every single time she hit a tennis ball, and it was 100 percent commitment to it.”
“I think there are people out there that have a very wrong perception of what she is like as a person and as a competitor out there,” continued Petchey.
“She is going to give everything to this sport. And ultimately I believe she will be a multiple Grand Slam champion.”
More must-reads: