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After taking a brief break, Emma Raducanu is back in action at this week’s Madrid Open. The British No. 2 has not played since reaching the quarter-final in Miami almost a month ago after pulling out of two tournaments to undergo a training block. Raducanu is now ready to go, with an “informal”, ad-hoc team in place.
Ahead of her campaign on the Spanish clay, the 22-year-old opened up on her time away from competition and gave an update on her coaching situation following reports that she wanted Mark Petchey to join her team full-time. A commentator for Tennis Channel, Petchey helped Raducanu out in Miami and will now be accommodating her in Madrid.
Raducanu reached her first-ever WTA 1000 quarter-final in Miami last month, losing to Jessica Pegula. But she decided to step away from the tour, skipping Britain’s BJK Cup ties and the WTA 250 in Rouen to take care of her body.
Instead, the world No. 49 enjoyed a 10-day training block in Los Angeles with Petchey. It was a difficult decision for Raducanu to take a break from tournaments.
But the former US Open champion has realised that she must strike the right balance and take her foot off the gas at times.
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“I’ve realised now that less is more for me sometimes. I work really intense and really hard and can definitely be partial to overkilling it sometimes,” she told Sky Sports ahead of her opening match in Madrid.
“It’s just making sure when I’m on the court I’m maxing out for X amount of time so I can focus, and then once I’m done, I’m switching off better.”
While Raducanu agrees that “people need matches”, she believes that it is essential to find some breathing room in the tight calendar. “I’m trying to take it day-by-day but I knew at that point in the season [post-Miami Open] I needed some time off,” she added.
The world No. 49 is also continuing her coaching stint with Petchey on an “informal” basis. Raducanu struck up a coaching trial with Vladimir Platenik ahead of Indian Wells, but during her opening match in Miami, he was nowhere to be seen, and the Brit later confirmed their trial had ended.
Instead, Raducanu was joined by long-time friend and mentor Jane O’Donoghue, while Petchey took time from his punditry duties to help her out. And she will be using the same set-up this fortnight in Spain.
“We haven’t made anything formal. It’s pretty informal for now but is something that’s going really well,” she said of her work with Petchey.
“He’s someone I feel I can trust because I’ve known him so long. For now, it’s working really well and it’s nice to be with someone that I feel comfortable with.
“I’m still figuring things out: what works for me, what doesn’t. What gets the best out of me. For now, I’m not getting as technical as I used to maybe.”
Petchey – who briefly worked with Raducanu before her breakout in 2021 and has also coached Andy Murray – has also been helping the 22-year-old with her work-life balance.
She continued: “I did some great work with Mark out there, it was nice to be around him, not just on the court.
“He’s someone I get on really well with and we always have very thought-provoking, interesting conversations. It was a perfect balance of work and being relaxed off the court.”
Raducanu will begin her Madrid Open campaign against world No. 73 Suzan Lamens, who recently beat Katie Boulter during the BJK Cup and reached the Rouen semi-final.