"The games have changed massively": Mark Petchey defends Emma Raducanu after French Open 2025 second-round exit

Emma Raducanu’s coach Mark Petchey has come out in her defence after the French Open 2025 exit. The 22-year-old suffered a defeat in the second round of the second Grand Slam of the year to the defending champion, Poland’s Iga Swiatek, in straight sets with a score of 6-1, 6-2. It was her fifth consecutive defeat against the former world number one.

Raducanu’s recent defeat is another disappointing outing at a major event for the one-time Grand Slam winner who was touted as the next big thing when she lifted the US Open at the age of 18. During her struggles on the court over the last few years, the young British tennis player has been criticised for not working hard enough to produce the goods on the court consistently.

Raducanu’s current coach, Petchey, has recently spoken to TNT Sports and defended the youngster after suffering a defeat in the round of 64 at the Roland Garros. The 54-year-old was of the opinion that people are still stuck in ‘2021’, which is not fair to the player who is trying to improve step by step. Petchey also dismissed suggestions that Raducanu does not work hard enough behind the scenes and stated that every time he worked with the former world number 10, she has given her all.

“Since Miami when we improvised and I started helping Emma, I said she needs to start closing the gap between the best players,” said Petchey. “On this court, Iga is 23 straight wins – you don’t put those streaks together at a major [tournament] if your game isn’t so difficult to play against. It was clearly going to be the ultimate test for Emma yesterday. From my point of view, it’s tough on Emma as I still feel everyone is living in 2021. The games have changed massively, the balls are four times heavier than back in 2021 and Emma isn’t the biggest hitter out there.”

He continued by saying: “My mantra to her has been, ‘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.’ I’m a little tired of hearing people say that she doesn’t work hard. I spent 10 months with her in 2020, and I’ve spent every day that I can with her since Miami, and not once has she not put in a full day shift. Whether there are areas that together, we can help her be crystalise more gains in the fitness or the tennis or whatever, but in terms of turning up every day and putting in a good shift, she’s done it every single time. So, I’d like to bury that myth where it belongs.”