Emma's Living Her Tennis Career Backwards (And Her Coach Just Called It Out)

By Lewis Barnett 29 May, 2025 6 mins read 65 Views

God, watching Emma Raducanu get demolished 6-1, 6-2 by Iga Swiatek at Roland Garros was painful.

But here's the thing everyone's missing – her new coach Mark Petchey just dropped some truth bombs that actually make sense. The guy basically told Emma she's been living her entire tennis career in reverse order, and honestly? He's not wrong. Think about it. Most players grind for years, slowly climbing rankings, maybe winning a small tournament here and there. Emma? She won the freaking US Open at 18 on her debut and then... well, everything since has felt like going backwards.

Petchey's been working with her since Miami (that's March, for those keeping track) and he's not sugarcoating anything.

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The Balls Are Different Now. Seriously.

Here's where it gets interesting – and I had no idea about this until Petchey mentioned it on TNT Sports. The tennis balls today are apparently four times heavier than they were back in 2021 when Emma had her fairytale run. Four times! That's not a small adjustment; that's like learning to play a completely different sport.

"Emma isn't one of the biggest hitters out there," Petchey said, and you could hear the frustration in his voice. "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."

No kidding.

The man's got a point though – on hard courts and grass, that gap between Emma and the top players shrinks considerably. Clay has never been kind to British players anyway (with rare exceptions), so maybe we shouldn't be writing obituaries just yet.

Starting Over at 22

Petchey's approach is brutal but probably necessary. He's basically telling Emma: "Forget 2021 happened. You're starting your career now." Can you imagine being told to mentally erase the biggest achievement of your life? But maybe that's exactly what she needs to hear.

"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," he told her. Build a normal career. Like Jack Draper, Jacob Fearnley, Sonay Kartal – players who are climbing the ladder the traditional way.

It's a weird position to be in, honestly. Most 22-year-olds would kill for Emma's resume, but that early success has become this massive weight around her neck.

The Work Ethic Myth (Finally Someone Said It)

I'm so tired of people questioning Emma's commitment. Petchey shut that down 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."

Thank you. Finally someone with actual inside knowledge defending her work rate instead of armchair experts making assumptions based on... what exactly? Her Instagram posts?

The guy worked with Andy Murray, so he knows what elite-level dedication looks like. When he says Emma shows up every single day and puts in the work, maybe we should listen.

Those Subtle Changes Might Actually Matter

Petchey's been tweaking things – her racquet strings, her service motion (they worked on that in LA). Small stuff that takes time to bed in. Anyone who's played tennis knows how even tiny adjustments can throw off your entire game for weeks.

He's also being refreshingly honest about his own role: "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."

That's... actually pretty admirable? A coach willing to step aside if he's not moving the needle.

The Reality Check We All Needed

Look, Emma's about to move up to 37th in the world rankings. That's not catastrophic. That's actually pretty decent for someone who's been dealing with injuries and the impossible pressure of living up to a once-in-a-lifetime breakthrough.

Even Daniil Medvedev hasn't won a tournament in two years, and nobody's writing think pieces about his career being over.

Maybe Petchey's right. Maybe we're all still living in 2021, expecting magic to happen again immediately. The grass season's coming up – traditionally better for British players – and Emma's got time to let those technical changes settle in.

Sometimes you have to go backwards before you can move forward again. Even if it feels like living your career in reverse.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the impact of different surfaces on tennis matches?

The style and speed of tennis matches can be affected significantly by different playing surfaces. Grass courts tend to produce a faster game favoring big servers and those with an attacking style. Clay courts have a slower ball speed and a higher bounce. They are better for players with tenacity and topspin. Hard courts reward players with an even playing surface, which is neither too fast and not too slow. These differences in surfaces call for different strategic approaches, which can greatly influence match results.

What role have tennis icon played in popularizing sport?

Tennis icons played a crucial role in the globalization of tennis. Throughout history, charismatic players such as Billie Jean King and Pete Sampras have captured the imagination of the public. The achievements of these players on the tennis court and their personalities away from the court not only inspired fans but also younger generations to pick up the sport. Their legacies go beyond their titles. They shape the culture of tennis and its marketplace.

What are key elements of tennis etiquette?

Tennis etiquette, which reflects both respect and sportsmanship, is a fundamental part of the sport. Players are expected to make honest calls on line rulings, avoid distractions during serves, remain silent during rallies, and shake hands cordially after the match. Audiences can participate in this etiquette as well by remaining silent during the match and applauding great shots from both competitors. Adherence to these unwritten rules maintains the integrity and gentlemanly tradition of tennis, reinforcing its status as a sport that upholds high standards of conduct.

Who is credited as standardizing the modern tennis game?

Major Walter Clopton Wingfield is largely credited with standardizing the modern game of tennis. In 1873 Wingfield invented a new version of tennis, called Sphairistike. The game was played on a grass hourglass court. Wingfield's version of the game included a simplified scoring system and the equipment that is similar to what is used today. This iteration laid the foundation for the rules of lawn tennis, and by 1877, the first Wimbledon Championships were held, cementing the game's rules and structure.

How have women's contributions to tennis shaped the sport?

Tennis has been shaped by women, through their performances on the court and their advocacy for equality and respect off the court. Billie Jean King's tireless efforts to promote equal prize-money and professional opportunities for female tennis players led to the Women's Tennis Association's (WTA's) formation in 1973. Steffi Graf, Venus, Serena and Martina Navratilova and other icons like them have dramatically increased the sport's popularity with their talent. The sport is popular with both men and women.

Statistics

The four Grand Slam tournaments collectively attract over 3.5 million spectators in person, highlighting tennis's enduring appeal.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) governs over 200 nations, indicating the sport's vast international governance structure and participation rate.
Since the Open Era began in 1968, allowing professional players to compete in the Grand Slams, the United States has produced the most Grand Slam singles titles across men's and women's competition.
Lawn tennis, which evolved into the game we know today, adapted its point system from the jeu de paume, with theories suggesting its increments represent the face of a clock.
Graphite became a popular material for tennis racquets in the 1980s, with over 90% of professional players now using graphite or graphite composite racquets.

External Links

How To

Tennis History: How to Research it

Discover the history behind tennis by exploring key historical periods, from its origins of "real" tennis in France during the 12th century to its modern form as lawn tennis. You can find reference materials in libraries, databases online, and archives for sporting organizations. The codification of the rules by Major Walter Clopton Wingfield, and the creation of prestigious tournaments such as Wimbledon are notable milestones. Tennis history is available in the International Tennis Hall of Fame's books and online resources.