“It’s never really been my interest or philosophy to chop and change coaches. I’ve never really wanted that. I’m a very loyal person, whether that’s with my tennis or off the court,” Emma Raducanu said in December 2024. Navigating a turbulent coaching carousel with seven changes in four years, her path took another unexpected turn with a mere 14-day stint alongside Vladimir Platenik, who himself called the role “coaching suic-de.” Then, following Nick Cavaday’s exit, her breakthrough finally came at the Miami Open, where she surpassed early rounds for the first time since the previous Korea Open. This resurgence coincided with training sessions alongside Mark Petchey. Now in Madrid, this partnership seems to be bearing fruit, but is it official?

On Wednesday, she outlasted Suzan Lamens 7-6(4), 6-4 in Madrid, notching her first clay court victory since 2022. “I know I had to play really well to win and although it wasn’t always my best, I got stuck in at the right moments,” she said post-match. “I’m proud of how I competed. It is a strength of mine when I can use it.” With her 35-point boost from Madrid, Raducanu jumped two spots in the live WTA rankings, moving from No. 49 to No. 47.

This win marks a big confidence boost for the Brit, who’s battled injuries, team changes, and the pressure of living up to expectations. But lately, things are looking up. Reportedly, last month saw Raducanu bring on acclaimed Mark Petchey, Andy Murray’s former coach, to her team on board. Hoping to finally put her physical woes behind her and find some consistency. And it looks like it’s working. But in terms of the longevity of this duo, Raducanu is keeping things refreshingly informal.

Speaking to Sky Sports in Madrid, she was asked if this was a “formal situation,” following her Miami streak. She said, “No, we haven’t made anything formal. It’s pretty informal for now, but it’s something that’s going really well and he’s someone that I feel like I can trust because I’ve known him for so long, before the US Open when I won it,” she shared. Noting that their conversations are “thought-provoking,” and she’s clearly enjoying the dynamic.

His influence has already paid off. Since he joined her team around the Miami Open, Emma Raducanu has surged to her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal, taking down big names like Emma Navarro and Amanda Anisimova along the way. Previously, he helped her during her 2021 US Open triumph. However, his resume is impressive in itself.

Petchey coached Andy Murray from June 2005 to April 2006, a period that saw Murray rocket up the rankings from outside the top 350 to inside the top 50. Under Petchey’s guidance, Murray climbed from world No. 351 to No. 41 and captured his first ATP title in San Jose, marking a major breakthrough early in his career. Now, on Emma’s team, it could perhaps be the key she needs to unlock her potential.

“I think for now, it’s working really well and it’s nice to kind of be with someone I feel familiar and feel comfortable with,” Raducanu said. Additionally, she expressed this sentiment during the Miami Open as well! While not particularly about the coaching change, she noted an “inner calmness” on the court. Which perhaps could be seen even in Madrid.

Emma’s admission to feeling calm in Miami despite pressure mounting

Emma Raducanu stormed through the Miami Open with a fresh burst of energy, leaving fans buzzing after a tough start to 2025. Despite an early exit at Indian Wells, she turned things around on March 19 by defeating Sayaka Ishii, setting the tone for a thrilling tournament. Her resilience shone brightest in a nearly three-hour epic against Emma Navarro, where, despite a foot injury and trailing 3-1 in the final set, Raducanu dug deep and clinched a 7-6(6), 2-6, 7-6(3) victory. “I really do relish like a really tight situation or a tight scenario. I have this inner calmness, I think that I tap into in those situations,” she told Tennis Channel, adding, “When it gets to like 5 or 6 all, I just find like a coolness within me and I don’t know I try not to think about it because thinking makes things worse.”

Raducanu’s Miami run didn’t stop there. She impressed by dismantling opponents with a confident, aggressive style, including a dominant win over McCartney Kessler and a strong showing against Amanda Anisimova. Her form sparked excitement as she reached her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal, where she faced Jessica Pegula. With their head-to-head tied at 1-1, Raducanu was ready to break the deadlock and extend her winning streak, showing a competitive spirit that’s been missing in recent years.

Now, in Madrid, despite Lamens’ forehand shot-making proving to be a tough challenge, Raducanu clutched a win when it counted. Edging past a tight opening tiebreak and rallying back from 2-0 down in the second set. Her next opponent is No. 24 seed Marta Kostyuk in the second round. The two met at this stage in 2022, with Raducanu winning 6-2, 6-1 to even their head-to-head at one win each.

Will Emma power through on clay and build on her recent momentum? Share your thoughts in the comments below!