‘We never fell out’ – Emma Raducanu’s former coach reveals state of relationship after split

Emma Raducanu’s former coach Mark Petchey has lifted the lid on his relationship with the star following their split last year.

The pair worked together for just four months in an association that came to an end last summer.

AFP

Petchey, who previously worked with Andy Murray, was later replaced by Francisco Roig, the former coach of Murray’s long-time rival Rafael Nadal.

Her working contract with Roig was expected to run until the end of 2025 but was extended into this month’s Australian Open.

Raducanu’s concerns with playing style

However, the 2021 US Open winner questioned her direction under Roig after crashing out in the second round in Melbourne with a straight-sets defeat to Anastasia Potapova.

“I want to be playing a different way,” the British women’s number one said. “The misalignment with how I’m playing right now and how I want to be playing is something I want to work on.”

In another interview with the BBC, she expanded on her initial comments saying: “I didn’t play how I wanted to play because I wasn’t hitting any shots particularly well.

“It’s tough to take an assessment when you’re completely off. Me and Francis have done some amazing work together in the past few months, and I’ve improved so many different aspects of my game. I think it’s difficult to say we don’t agree.”

No hard feelings

Petchey was later quizzed on the situation and claims that they pair are still very much in regular contact.

“Emma and I never fell out,” he told The Big T podcast. “It just got to the point where I felt I couldn’t be the number one coach.

Petchey and Raducanu’s split was partially due to the 55-year-old coach being unable to offer her the required level of support due to his commitments as a full-time tennis commentator.

“I’m happy for her,” he added. “We still chat, we’re still in good communication, she’ll still run some stuff past me. I’ll help her forever, I’ll take a bullet for her.”

Getty

Getty

In an interview with OLBG last year Petchey explained that the parting of the ways was a cordial one.

“The way we stopped working together was totally amicable,” he said.

“I think it’s really a great opportunity for her to work with somebody like Francisco, who has worked with one of the best players of all time in Nadal.

“To have time alone with Francisco, to work on the stuff, is a golden opportunity for her and him to try to take her game to the next level, where she’s going to be able to win Grand Slams.

“My only ever goal in coming back was to make sure that I could help her, but when a better opportunity looks like it’s presented itself, which it has, it’s like, ‘Well, this is it. Grab it with both hands. Get stuck in.’

“I think they’ll be great. I think they’ll be a great partnership. I’m super happy for her, and I’m super excited about her potential.”

“But she knows where I am; she’s always known where I am. I’m not planning to change my number!”`