Emma Raducanu has had a difficult start to the 2026 season, struggling both with her on-court performances and with stability in her coaching team. After early eliminations at the Hobart International and the Australian Open in Melbourne, her coach Francisco Roig stepped away from the role. During the transition period, Raducanu briefly worked with her hitting partner Alexis Canter before reconnecting with former coach Mark Petchey.
American tennis star Frances Tiafoe believes that Petchey could be the steady presence Raducanu needs to regain her form. Reflecting on the challenges young players face, Tiafoe explained that at certain points in a career, athletes must honestly evaluate how much they truly want success and what they are willing to do to achieve it. While he clarified that he was speaking from his own experience rather than judging Raducanu directly, he emphasized that the British player has undeniable talent. According to him, Raducanu possesses exceptional ability, a strong work ethic, and the credentials of a Grand Slam champion.
Tiafoe suggested that Raducanu’s biggest need may simply be finding a coach who genuinely understands her and can guide her consistently as she works to climb back to the top of the sport. Her frequent coaching changes have become a defining pattern in her career. Since turning professional in 2018, Raducanu has worked with more than six coaches, including Nigel Sears, Andrew Richardson, Torben Beltz, Dmitry Tursunov, Sebastian Sachs, and Roig. Many of these partnerships ended after relatively short periods, a pattern that has increasingly drawn criticism and concern from observers of the sport.
Although Tiafoe has also experienced several coaching changes in his own career, he said that what Raducanu needs most is someone committed to supporting her through both success and setbacks. In his view, a coach who remains steady during the ups and downs could help her rebuild the confidence and form required to return to the elite level where many believe she belongs.
Around the same time Tiafoe shared his thoughts, fellow American star Coco Gauff acknowledged that it would be challenging for her personally to compete under circumstances similar to Raducanu’s. Gauff explained that although she sometimes does not rely heavily on her coach during certain tournaments, she still believes that having a clear sense of direction from a coaching team is valuable. She noted that the team she currently works with strikes a good balance by allowing her space to think through situations herself rather than constantly instructing her during matches.
Like Raducanu, Gauff has also worked with multiple coaches since beginning her professional career in 2018. Her past coaching team has included Jean‑Christophe Faurel, Diego Moyano, Pere Riba, Brad Gilbert, and Matt Daly. She currently collaborates with biomechanics specialist Gavin MacMillan.
Several of these coaching adjustments coincided with major achievements in Gauff’s career. She captured her first Grand Slam singles title at the 2023 US Open while working with Gilbert and later won the 2025 French Open with support from Faurel and Daly. Her decision to begin working with MacMillan in August 2025 was primarily aimed at addressing persistent issues with her serve following a strong run on hard courts earlier in the season.
Gauff also pointed out that every tennis player approaches coaching differently. Some athletes perform well without heavy guidance and may rely more on hitting partners or a minimal support team. However, she admitted that with the number of adjustments she has been making to her own game, competing without a coach would likely leave her feeling lost. In fact, she mentioned that during certain matches she rarely looks toward her player’s box for advice, preferring to rely on her instincts, but still values having a coach available when needed.
Meanwhile, Raducanu’s extensive list of nine coaches throughout her career has made stability a recurring challenge. Petchey’s return to her team could potentially provide the consistency she has been searching for. The two have previously worked together twice. Their first collaboration took place in 2020, while the second occurred temporarily in 2025 ahead of the Miami Open. At that time, Petchey was unable to commit fully because of his broadcasting responsibilities across multiple networks.
Despite the limited nature of that partnership, Raducanu’s results improved significantly during their four-month collaboration, as she compiled a strong 15-8 match record. However, after Petchey stepped away following Wimbledon Championships, her performances began to decline again. In the tournaments that followed, she managed to win only 13 of her next 27 matches.
Now that Petchey has rejoined her team, Raducanu is hoping the renewed partnership can help her regain consistency and confidence on tour. She is aiming to build momentum with a deep run at the Indian Wells Open before moving on to the Miami Open.
Her campaign in Indian Wells began on a promising note when she defeated Anastasia Zakharova with a convincing 6-1, 6-3 victory in the Round of 64. Ahead of the tournament, Raducanu explained that her current focus is on reconnecting with her instincts and rediscovering her natural style of play. She admitted that receiving too many different instructions from various people in the past had sometimes made it difficult to play in a way that felt authentic to her game.
- Looking ahead, Raducanu faces a difficult challenge in the next round against world No. 6 Amanda Anisimova. The upcoming match will test whether Raducanu can continue her strong start and reach the Round of 16 at Indian Wells for the second time in her career. Only time will reveal whether her renewed partnership with Petchey can finally provide the stability she needs to return to top form.