Emma Raducanu reunites with Mark Petchey ahead of Indian Wells — Henman says she may be better off without a coach
emma raducanu has reunited with Mark Petchey on an informal basis after parting ways with coach Francisco Roig, with the move timed ahead of the Indian Wells event beginning March 4 (ET). The British player, coming off a first-round defeat in Dubai, will retain hitting partner Alexis Canter and work with Petchey in the build-up to the tournament. The split with Roig followed a second-round exit at the Australian Open and is the latest change in a working relationship that has already seen multiple short-term coaching arrangements.
Emma Raducanu and Petchey: third reunion
The reunion is the third time Mark Petchey has stepped into a coaching role alongside the player after earlier, temporary work in 2025 that brought a period of improved form. Petchey previously worked with her for four months in early 2025 before she hired Francisco Roig in August in a bid to find a permanent coach. Roig, who formerly coached Rafael Nadal, left after a six-month spell marked by disappointing results; his departure was the ninth coaching split since the 2021 US Open.
Since the January split from Roig, emma raducanu has travelled with hitting partner Alexis Canter and physiotherapist Emma Stewart. Canter, a 27-year-old British former player who reached a career-high ranking of 779 last year, will remain part of Raducanu’s on-court setup as Petchey provides short-term input. The player’s recent schedule included a run to a final in Romania — her first since 2021 — and a first-round loss to Antonia Ruzic in Dubai that immediately preceded the Petchey reunion.
Immediate reactions from the camp and experts
Tim Henman, four-time Wimbledon semi-finalist and analyst, said: “I just wonder whether she’s better off without a coach and that’s nothing against Petch. He’s someone I’ve known for a long time and he’s a very, very good coach but we know it’s not going to be a full-time appointment because Petch has his broadcast commitments. ” Henman added that he sees physicality as a key area for improvement to match top Grand Slam champions on tour.
Mark Petchey, British coach and pundit, framed the return as a pragmatic, short-term step: “We’ve always stayed in touch. I said I’d come to Indian Wells early, and try and help her. That’s kind of where we are. I know everybody feels that there isn’t really this big plan at this particular stage. This is the plan, is day by day, we’ll figure out where it goes. ” Petchey also acknowledged the balance he must strike with his other commitments and described the partnership as flexible.
What’s next
emma raducanu arrives at Indian Wells with a bye into the second round in singles and a doubles entry alongside Elena-Gabriela Ruse. The immediate focus will be match preparation and short-term adjustments while the day-by-day approach with Petchey plays out on the practice courts. The next developments to watch are how the player’s team manages tournament scheduling, whether the short-term coaching input alters her game style, and whether this iteration of the partnership extends beyond the upcoming event.
