Emma Raducanu will need a new coach, admits her current one

Emma Raducanu linked up with Mark Petchey on an informal basis in March - PA/Mike Egerton

Emma Raducanu could soon be hunting for yet another new coach after Mark Petchey confirmed he was likely to split with her.

Raducanu has played some of her best tennis since linking up with the former British No 1 on an informal basis in March, culminating in a narrow third-round defeat against top seed Aryna Sabalenka on Centre Court at Wimbledon.

But Petchey has insisted his television commentating commitments will continue to rule him out from taking on the role full-time, which would mean a ninth coach for the 22-year-old since her shock 2021 US Open triumph.

“I think, at the moment, we are a bit more short term,” Petchey told the Nothing Ventured podcast.

“She’s practising this week in London and her next tournament is Washington, and she’ll stay in the States the whole time.

“Our situation is a little fluid at the moment. I am going to help her this week as much as I can. I have some other commitments I can’t get out of.

“We are very aware she needs a second coach to come on board and maybe just one coach, not me, as well.

“All I am trying to do is facilitate the best possible environment for Emma to produce the tennis she can.

“Whether that involves me or does not involve me is not a question that I’m worried about. We are just trying to find something that will be stable or good for her.”

Petchey’s broadcast duties mean he cannot take up the role full-time - PA/Mike Egerton

Petchey combined his coaching duties with punditry for TNT during the recent French Open, and he is due to resume his TV commitments with The Tennis Channel during Raducanu’s US swing.

When Petchey was unavailable at the start of the grass-court season, Raducanu’s former coach Nick Cavaday – who stepped down from the role after the Australian Open in January for health reasons – linked back up with her.

Both Petchey and Cavaday were seen together in her player’s box at Queen’s last month, although the latter has not been spotted during Wimbledon amid speculation that they may have offered conflicting advice.

Petchey is now expected to be part of The Tennis Channel’s coverage of the two ATP 1000 events across July and August: the Canadian Open and the Cincinnati Open.

While Raducanu plans to be among those competing in Cincinnati, the women’s tour will be in Montreal at the same time that Petchey will be in Toronto for the Canadian Open, meaning that a clash in schedules would likely leave the British No 3 without a coach for the week.

With Raducanu due to return to action at the Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington in two weeks’ time, it is not yet clear who will coach her for the American swing.

It’s also understood that Petchey has spent time talking to several coaches at Wimbledon, including Darren Cahill, the Australian who has worked with the likes of Lleyton Hewitt, Andre Agassi and Sir Andy Murray in the past and who now steers men’s world No 1 Jannik Sinner.

Raducanu impressed despite exiting Wimbledon against Aryna Sabalenka - Getty Images/Shi Tang

The Sabalenka match thrilled a late-night Centre Court crowd and offered Petchey even more encouragement that Raducanu could return to the level that saw her become the first qualifier to win a grand-slam title.

“It was a great tennis match,” added Petchey. “It’s been pretty positive from a point of view you can reflect on the fact the match was great, and get feedback from people talking about it.

“I’ve sought out opinions from people I respect in the industry, coaches, asking them what they felt about the match and what she could have done better and that gives you a chance to formulate a plan going forward for this week and in the future.”

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