Tim Henman has suggested Emma Raducanu might be better off without a full-time coach, even as the British No 1 has reunited informally with Mark Petchey ahead of Indian Wells. Raducanu ended her partnership with Francisco Roig after a second-round exit at the Australian Open; Roig was her ninth coach since the 2021 US Open victory.
Raducanu had a productive temporary spell with Petchey earlier in 2025 and says she is happy working with hitting partner Alexis Canter, a 27-year-old former British player. She plans to keep Canter and use Petchey in the run-up to Indian Wells, but Petchey’s broadcast commitments make a full-time arrangement unlikely.
Speaking as a Sky Sports analyst, Henman praised Petchey’s work but questioned whether a permanent coach is essential for Raducanu right now. He stressed the value of a clear playing identity and coaching continuity — noting he had three coaches over 15 years — and urged Raducanu to prioritise physical development so she can compete with the game’s biggest hitters. Henman singled out players such as Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina and Coco Gauff as examples of the power and endurance Raducanu needs to match, and encouraged her to get stronger, more resilient and hit the ball harder to reduce physical setbacks and sustain high-level performances.
Petchey helped inspire some of Raducanu’s best form that season, including a Queen’s Club quarter-final and a strong showing at Wimbledon against Sabalenka. After parting with Roig, Raducanu reached her first final since the 2021 US Open at a tournament in Romania, and she has said she is content with her current mix of support.
Former junior Wimbledon champion Laura Robson said the coaching argument is often overplayed and that Raducanu’s happiness and clarity on court matter most. Robson pointed out that Raducanu and Petchey appear to get on well and share the same ideas about her game. She also highlighted the practical benefits of having a coach — logistics, practice planning and equipment management — which free a player to focus solely on performance. For Robson, establishing a clear identity on court is already a major step forward.
Sky Sports commentator Jonathan Overend added that Raducanu’s career has been marked by frequent reassessment, which helps explain the coaching turnover. He said finding the right balance around the player is an ongoing process and that Raducanu is slowly working towards greater clarity about what she wants from her tennis and life on tour.
A brief overview of Raducanu’s nine coaching partnerships since 2021:
– Nigel Sears: early 2021, helped her breakthrough to the Wimbledon fourth round.
– Andrew Richardson: guided her through the 2021 US Open title run.
– Torben Beltz: short spell ending April 2022.
– Dmitry Tursunov: trial in summer 2022, partnership ended prematurely.
– Sebastian Sachs: late 2022 appointment cut short by Raducanu’s surgeries.
– Nick Cavaday: around 14 months, helped her return to the top 60; stepped down early 2025.
– Vlado Platenik: brief trial in March 2025 (about 14 days).
– Mark Petchey: provided tactical input during the 2025 grass-court season.
– Francisco Roig: appointed August 2025, split after the January 2026 Australian Open exit.
Now 23, Raducanu is aiming to reinstate a more aggressive style so she can compete consistently with the WTA elite, while also balancing the practical and emotional support she needs on tour.