Latest news with #MarkPetchey
The Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Emma Raducanu told she has been ‘living her career in reverse' by coach and BBC pundit after Swiatek hammering
EMMA RADUCANU has been told by her new coach she has to restart her career – because she has been living her tennis life in 'reverse'. And guru Mark Petchey – a respected TV analyst – has defended her work ethic and claims doubters should stop living in the past as the sport has moved on since that fairytale US Open victory. 4 4 Raducanu, 22, switches to the grass now after a humbling 6-1 6-2 clay defeat to defending champion Iga Swiatek at the French Open. What she famously achieved in New York four years ago, aged 18 and on her debut, has raised expectations and perhaps unfairly piled too much pressure on her shoulders. Petchey, 54, wants people to realise that tennis BALLS are different these days – he claims they are 'four times heavier than they were back in 2021'. And having agreed to work with her since the Miami Open in March, and following a key training block in LA, he has told her camp if he is not the right man to take her forward, then he will step aside. Speaking on TNT Sports, Petchey said: 'From my point of view, it's tough on Emma at the moment. 'I feel as though everybody's still living in 2021. The game has changed massively. 'The balls are four times heavier than they were back in 2021 and Emma isn't one of the biggest hitters out there. 'If you can't put the ball through the court particularly on a windy, heavy clay-court day against someone like Iga, you're going to get into all sorts of trouble. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 4 'Listen, on hard and grass that gap is a lot closer in my opinion right now compared to where Emma was in Australia against Iga. 'She knows what she's going to have to do and it's going to take a long time. 'My mantra to her since Miami has been: You know, you're starting your career now. 'Everyone is going to judge you on what happened in 2021 but the reality for me is, I'd like to see you start building a normal career from here, where you get judged in a couple of years. 'Like Jack (Draper), Jacob Fearnley, Sonay (Kartal), all of these people. That's where, unfortunately for Emma, she's living her career in reverse.' Essex-born Petchey – who should have more free time in the grass campaign to work on the practice courts – has made subtle changes so far, particular to her choice of racquet strings. Raducanu, set to move up to 37th in the world rankings, has been besieged with injuries since that £1.8million US success. One thing Petchey has been quick to defend is her work ethic, saying it is a 'myth' to suggest she is scared of putting in the hours. 'IT HAS BEEN BETTER' Andy Murray's former coach said: 'Since Miami, when we improvised and I started helping Emma, it has been the one thing I've said to her – she has got to close the gap between the best players. 'She doesn't need me to sit around 20 and 50 in the world – and if I'm not the best choice, then she needs to find the best choice. 'The one thing that everybody knows is that we worked on her service motion over in Los Angeles. It's a longer motion. I think it has been better. 'But like any changes, it takes a while to bed in, particularly when you go out on one of the biggest courts in the world, it may not fire as well. 'You look at somebody like Daniil Medvedev, he hasn't won a tournament for two years. 'The game has changed. These balls have changed. For somebody like Emma to move the ball, she has to find a way to be able to feel as though she can have an impact against players like Coco (Gauff), (Aryna) Sabalenka, Iga. 'That's my job. If I'm not good enough at it, in finding whether I can do it, or somebody else can do it… 'When you've been through what she has been through in the last four years, there's an ability to get behind the ball a bit quicker and therefore make something more happen with it. But lots of improvements. 'I'm a little tired of hearing people say that she doesn't work hard. 'I spent ten 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. '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.' Watch every match of Roland-Garros live and exclusive on TNT Sports and discovery 4
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Coach blames heavy tennis balls for Raducanu form
Emma Raducanu's coach Mark Petchey has said heavier tennis balls are among things affecting the British number two's attempts to rejoin the world's elite exited the French Open after being outclassed by five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek 6-1 6-2 in the second round on 2021 US Open champion is ranked 41st in the world and has won just one of her nine career matches against top-five players."From my point of view, it's tough on Emma as I still feel everyone is living in 2021," said Petchey, who has been coaching Raducanu in an "informal" arrangement since March."The games have changed massively," said exaggerating to make the point about heavier balls, he continued: "The balls are four times heavier than back in 2021 and Emma isn't the biggest hitter out there."If you can't put the ball through the court on a windy, heavy clay court day against someone like Iga, you're going to get into all sorts of trouble."Petchey, a former British number one, coached an 18-year-old Andy Murray for 10 months helping him break into the top 50 in 2006 and also trained Raducanu during the pandemic summer of is combining his coaching commitments with his work as a pundit for TNT Sports in their coverage of Roland said: "Since I started helping Emma, I said she needs to start closing the gap between the best players."She doesn't need me to sit between 20-50 in the world and, if I'm not the best choice, she needs to find the best choice."My mantra to her has been that 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."Raducanu has been without a full-time coach since Nick Cavaday stood down for health reasons in 22-year-old has previously worked with a number of coaches including Nigel Sears, Andrew Richardson, Torben Beltz, Dmitry Tursunov and Sebastian Sachs. Are balls 'four times heavier' than 2021? A number of tennis players, including Stan Wawrinka and Nick Kyrgios, have voiced their concerns over heavier and slower tennis balls in recent made by different manufacturers are far from identical and with tournaments free to sign their own contracts, players are forced to adapt to different kinds of balls throughout the season - even for the Grand Slams. Slazenger balls have been used at the Wimbledon since 1902 while Dunlop supply the balls for the Australian Open. The French Open and US Open currently use balls made by Wilson. Dunlop is also the official ball of the ATP Tour in a deal running until balls, which get increasingly heavy and slow, have become popular among the organisers to encourage longer rallies but many players believe they cause more frequent injuries. However, there are strict regulations as to what balls can be used in professional to the International Tennis Federation's rules, a ball used for the game must weigh between 56g and 59.4g. This has been the required weight range since 2000, when it changed from 56.7-58.5g. Under the same rules, the maximum change in mass allowed during play is balls must also pass a number of other tests, including for size, deformation - how it changes shape during a match - bounce and current acceptable range for ball diameter is 6.54cm to 6.86cm for a Type 2 ball. This specification last changed in 1966.
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Heavy balls to blame for Emma Raducanu's lack of success, says her coach
Emma Raducanu's coach has responded to criticism of her performance against Iga Swiatek on Wednesday with a passionate defence, arguing that public expectations are pitched too high. Mark Petchey stressed the quality of Swiatek's play in Wednesday's 6-1, 6-2 beatdown at the French Open, while also suggesting that Raducanu needs two more years to build an all-round game. 'It's tough on Emma as I still feel everyone is living in 2021,' Petchey said on TNT Sports, the channel where he works as a pundit at Roland Garros. 'The game has changed massively, the balls are four times heavier than back in 2021 and Emma isn't the biggest hitter out there. If you can't put the ball through the court on a windy, heavy clay-court day against someone like Iga, you're going to get into all sorts of trouble. 'Against Iga and Coco [Gauff, who beat Raducanu by exactly the same scoreline in Rome a fortnight ago], she knows what she has to do and it will take a long time. 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.'' When she came into the interview room, Raducanu was honest in her assessment of this second-round match, admitting that she had felt 'exposed' by the quality of Swiatek's play, before adding: 'I just don't know what to do in the moment'. She also pointed out: 'There is a big difference as you go up into the top five and then playing, like, slam champions. It is a completely different ball game.' Not on my court! 💪 Four-time champion Iga Swiatek sweeps past Raducanu in the second round! 👊🎾 #RolandGarros — Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 28, 2025 Petchey echoed these words in his defence, pointing out that Swiatek is on an extraordinary unbeaten run in Paris that stretches back almost four years. Some might even see her as the female equivalent of Rafael Nadal. 'On this court,' Petchey said, 'Iga has 23 straight wins. You don't put those streaks together at a major if your game isn't so difficult to play against. It was clearly going to be the ultimate test for Emma yesterday. 'If anyone has watched Iga's losses over the European clay court season, the players that have beaten her have played absolutely lights-out tennis. Although everyone says Iga's form is bad, I didn't actually think that and she proved it yesterday.' The good news for Raducanu's many admirers is that she now moves onto the grass, which most experts would identify as her best surface. Petchey had to miss her first-round win in Paris over Wang Xinyu because of his broadcasting commitments, but he will be exclusively focused on her needs during the six-week grass-court swing. 'Since Miami [in late March] when we improvised and I started helping Emma, I said she needs to start closing the gap between the best players,' Petchey explained. 'She doesn't need me to sit between 20 and 50 in the world and if I'm not the best choice, she needs to find the best choice. '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. Perhaps there are areas where together, we can help her crystallise 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.' Also on TNT Sports, the former world No 1 Caroline Wozniacki opined that Raducanu's unconventional career trajectory – which included winning the 2021 US Open as an 18-year-old qualifier – has complicated her development. 'The fact that Emma has won a grand slam, the fact that that was kind of her first burst on the scene, is very unusual,' said Wozniacki. 'It's never happened before, being in qualies and winning the tournament. 'So that obviously puts a lot of pressure on her, but at the same time, you've got to just go back and say: 'You know what? This is where I am now. What happened, happened. It's amazing. Nobody can take that away from me. But my level is 20 [in the world], let's say, or 30, whatever it may be, and I need to build from there.' 'Usually you start from the low ranking, and you slowly build your way up, then you go a little down, you make your way up again. But she kind of started at the top and then fell down and now has to work her way back and that can be a little hard.'
The Independent
2 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Emma Raducanu's coach defends tennis player's work ethic after French open loss
Emma Raducanu 's coach, Mark Petchey, has warned her that tennis has evolved significantly since her US Open win four years ago. Raducanu was defeated by Iga Swiatek at the French Open, continuing a trend of losses against top-five players. Petchey advises Raducanu to focus on closing the gap between herself and the best players, suggesting she may need a new coach if he isn't the best fit. Petchey notes that changes in the game, such as heavier balls, make it harder for Raducanu, who isn't a big hitter, to compete on certain surfaces. Petchey defends Raducanu's work ethic, dismissing claims that she doesn't work hard and emphasising her commitment to training.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Emma Raducanu's coach reveals his tough message for the former US Open winner after crushing defeat at Roland-Garros to defending champion Iga Swiatek
Emma Raducanu 's coach Mark Petchey has revealed the message he shared with the player at the start of their partnership in the wake of her French Open second-round defeat to Iga Swiatek. The former British No1 was crushed by the defending champion and four-time Roland-Garros winner on Court Philippe-Chatrier, falling 6-1, 6-2 on the Paris tournament's showcourt. Until her defeat to Swiatek, who is looking to secure a fourth consecutive French Open title next week, Raducanu had been enjoying an improved showing on clay under Petchey. The 22-year-old appointed Andy Murray 's former coach at the Miami Open, after calling time on her budding partnership with then-coach Vlado Platenik after just 14 days. Raducanu then trained with Petchey in Los Angeles, then competing in clay events in Madrid, Rome, and Strasbourg before travelling to the French capital. Speaking after the loss, Petchey - who manages his punditry commitments with TNT Sport and the Tennis channel alongside working with the world No41 - was bullish about his player's prospects as he called out those who have failed to move on from her historic US Open win nearly four years ago. The 22-year-old finished her clay season with a whimper as she lost in straight sets to Iga Swiatek in Paris But Petchey has been bullish about his player's prospects, targeting a return to the top 20 'From my point of view, it's tough on Emma as I still feel everyone is living in 2021,' Petchey said on TNT Sport. 'The games have changed massively, the balls are four times heavier than back in 2021 and Emma isn't the biggest hitter out there. 'If you can't put the ball through the court on a windy, heavy clay court day against someone like Iga, you're going to get in all sorts of trouble. 'If anyone has watched Iga's losses over the clay court season, the players that have beaten her have played absolutely lights-out tennis. Although everyone's saying Iga's form is bad, I didn't actually think that, and she proved it yesterday. 'On hard courts and grass is a lot closer compared to where Emma was in Australia (where she lost to Swiatek 6-1, 6-0) but against Iga and Coco (Gauff), she knows what she has to do and it will take a long time. '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."' Petchey added he was 'tired' of hearing complaints from those who believe Raducanu does not work hard, sharing that based on his experience working with her in 2020 and to date, 'not once has she not put in a full day shift'. 'Whether there are areas that together, we can help her crystalise more gains in the fitness, or the tennis, or whatever - in terms of turning up every day and putting in a good shift, she's done that every single time. 'So I'd like to bury that myth where it belongs.' Andy Murray's former coach also highlighted how much the game has changed in four year Petchey also shed light on the high standards he has set himself for working with the player, revealing that he has called upon his employer to sack him if she feels their partnership isn't yielding the necessary results. 'Since Miami when we improvised and I started helping Emma, I said she needs to start closing the gap between the best players,' Petchey continued. 'She doesn't need me to sit between 20 and 50 in the world, and if I'm not the best choice, she needs to find the best choice. Raducanu, who does not have a natural game on clay, may decide that her progress on grass is the ultimate benchmark for her work with Petchey. The player made the fourth round at last year's Wimbledon Championships for the second time in her career before defeat to qualifier Lulu Sun in SW19, and will look to improve on the result after improving her fitness over the last season.
