Emma Raducanu has been accused of hiring too many “yes men” after setting her sights on a new coaching partnership with Mark Petchey. The British No. 2 has been without a full-time mentor since January, when Nick Cavaday had to step away for health reasons.
Petchey has been helping out on an “informal” basis over the last few weeks and should join Raducanu at the upcoming Italian Open. Former world No. 9 CoCo Vandeweghe has now explained why their partnership could prove fruitful, claiming some of the Brit’s old coaches had been afraid to rock the boat.
Raducanu briefly worked with Petchey before her breakout summer in 2021. When she was left without a coach at last month’s Miami Open, he decided to help out alongside his Tennis Channel commentary duties.
They immediately enjoyed success as the world No. 49 reached her first career WTA 1000 quarter-final. Raducanu and Petchey then had a training block together and the British coach was back in her box at the Madrid Open.
