Jim Courier shared his thoughts on Emma Raducanu’s coaching relationship with Mark Petchey.
The tennis commentator joined the 23-year-old’s team at the Miami Open, where she reached the quarter-finals.
This is her most successful tournament of what has been a frustrating 2025 season so far, and she has continued to work with Petchey as a result.
It remains to be seen how long their partnership will last, but it has certainly started in an encouraging manner for Emma Raducanu.
Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty ImagesJim Courier assesses Mark Petchey coaching Emma Raducanu and says how long it could last
This is not the first time that Mark Petchey has coached Raducanu.
The pair worked together during the summer of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, and therefore Raducanu has opted for a familiar face to be part of her team.
This is something Jim Courier thinks coach Petchey will be good for Raducanu and hopes they stay together at least until the end of the grass court season.
“When covid hit, they went to work together, in private in the UK, so he knew her before she became a star,” the American told Tennis Channel.
“That’s obviously important for her in a time when she’s not been able to find a regular relationship with coaches.
“Relying on someone that she knew before it happened is really important so I don’t know how long it can last, but frankly the fact that they’re spending time together right now is really important. What I do hope is that it’s able to last at least through the grass court season.”
Photo by Robert Prange/Getty ImagesJim Courier says what Mark Petchey has changed in Emma Raducanu’s game
Raducanu is aiming for some consistency both on and off the court, something she has not had since her shocking US Open win four years ago.
Petchey has known the World number 49 for some time and knows exactly what he feels the player needs to improve.
This is something Courier has realised and he identified one shot he thinks Petchey has already changed in Raducanu’s game. “No-one’s expecting her to play well on clay, it’s not a natural surface for her,” Courier added.
“Grass is a surface where she first surfaced, she made the round 16 before she won the US Open at Wimbledon so for me, it’s about the building blocks for the grass court season.
“What I do know already is he’s already changed her service motion by adding more shoulder turn there which is the idea is to try and give her a little bit more disguise and a little more power. But I think overall this is a net positive for her on so many levels, we’ll see where it goes.”