Following Emma Raducanu’s second-round defeat at the French Open to Iga Swiatek, her coach, Mark Petchey, has identified several factors impacting the British number two’s efforts to regain her position among the world’s top players. the 2021 US Open champion faced a decisive loss against the five-time Grand Slam winner, with a score of 6-1, 6-2.

Raducanu, currently ranked 41st globally, has struggled against top-tier opponents, securing only one victory in nine matches against players ranked in the top five.

Petchey’s Perspective on Raducanu’s Challenges

Petchey, who has been providing coaching to Raducanu in an “informal” capacity since March, emphasized the difficulty of escaping the shadow of her 2021 success. “From my point of view, it’s tough on Emma as I still feel everyone is living in 2021,” Petchey stated.

“The balls are four times heavier than back in 2021 and Emma isn’t the biggest hitter out there.”

He also noted significant changes in the sport. “The games have changed massively,” said Petchey.

Petchey elaborated on the impact of heavier tennis balls, stating, “The balls are four times heavier than back in 2021 and Emma isn’t the biggest hitter out there. If you can’t put the ball through the court on a windy, heavy clay court day against someone like Iga, you’re going to get into all sorts of trouble.”

Petchey’s Coaching History and Current Role

Mark Petchey, a former British number one, has a history of coaching prominent players. He coached andy Murray at 18, helping him break into the top 50 in 2006, and also worked with Raducanu during the summer of 2020. Currently, he balances his coaching duties with his role as a pundit for TNT Sports, covering Roland Garros.

Raducanu’s Career Trajectory

Petchey emphasized the need for Raducanu to bridge the gap between herself and the leading players. “since I started helping Emma, I said she needs to start closing the gap between the best players. She doesn’t need me to sit between 20-50 in the world and, if I’m not the best choice, she needs to find the best choice. My mantra to her has been that you are starting your career now. Everyone is judging you on what happened in 2021 but the reality is, I want to see you building a career here where people judge you in two years.”

Raducanu has been without a permanent coach since Nick cavaday stepped down in January due to health reasons. She has previously collaborated with coaches such as Nigel Sears, Andrew Richardson, Torben Beltz, Dmitry Tursunov, and Sebastian Sachs.