Thursday, March 5, 2026

My natural way of playing has been coached out of me, says Raducanu

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Mark Petchey is at the top of that list. His day job with the Tennis Channel brings him to Indian Wells anyway, and he has answered the call for assistance.

He has been on court regularly this week and, even though the arrangement with Raducanu is on a day-to-day basis, it is possible that Petchey could resume the ad hoc role he had last spring.

Petchey, who coached Andy Murray at the start of his career, joined Raducanu’s team in Miami last March as she reached the quarter-finals.

He was also a regular presence throughout the clay-court season, when Raducanu reached the fourth round in Rome.

Raducanu said she asked for Petchey’s help as she felt uncomfortable about her game, and has noticed an improvement over the past few days.

“I work really well when I’m with him,” she said.

“I’m really happy to be on the court and just really enjoy it overall. I’m not sure, going forward, what it will look like.”

Remember when Raducanu caused a seismic shock by winning the 2021 US Open as a teenage qualifier who had barely played a professional tournament?

She managed to achieve the unthinkable by playing with a freedom which she has not been able to replicate consistently since.

Amost five years later and having reached the last 16 of a Grand Slam tournament only once since, Raducanu is determined to get back to basics.

That means rediscovering her natural instincts to be an aggressive baseliner. Her early success was built around not being afraid to take returns early in a bid to hustle opponents.

First serves were put back deep in the court to instantly put her rivals on the back foot and second serves were swatted away with impunity.

Raducanu’s power off both wings was impressive, although it was clear her forehand needed more work than her solid and stylish backhand.

Over the next year or so, the forehand deteriorated to a place where it lacked any punch and, following the wrist surgery which ruled her almost completely of the 2023 season, is what Roig tried to remodel.

The lack of trust in what Raducanu was being asked to do, though, was clear at the Australian Open.

In a demoralising second-round exit, she made 19 unforced errors off that wing and spoke afterwards about returning to a simple philosophy – “hitting the ball to the corners and hard”.

There is another aspect to Raducanu’s ambitions of returning to the top 10 and challenging the very best players – her body and mind.

She must continue to build fitness and durabilty – and have the heart for a scrap in tough moments – to implement the style she wants.

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