Is Emma Raducanu Training With Andy Murray’s Ex-Coach? Here’s What We Know of Her Collaboration at the Miami Open.
A champion needs a firm guiding hand, but Emma Raducanu‘s journey has been anything but conventional. With seven interim coaches in four years, she’s struggled to find the right guidance. The latest twist saw her part ways with interim coach Vladimir Platenik after just 14 days. This split followed Nick Cavaday’s departure post-Australian Open, with Platenik initially hesitant to take on the role, famously calling it “coaching suicide.” Yet, Raducanu has now reached her first WTA 1,000 quarter-final without a full-time coach. Is there a secret to her comeback?
On Monday, Raducanu secured her fourth consecutive win at the Miami Open by defeating Amanda Anisimova. This streak is her longest since the 2021 US Open, where she won as a teenage qualifier. Raducanu attributes her success to being true to herself. “I’d say I’m a bit of a free spirit so I don’t need restrictions or being told what to do,” she said. “I think when I’m being really authentic, that’s when I’m playing my best.” Currently ranked 60th in the world, Raducanu is now set to face US Open finalist Jessica Pegula.
As Raducanu prepares for her quarter-final match, an interesting development emerged from her practice sessions. She was spotted hitting the practice court with Mark Petchey, a temporary coach who had previously worked with her before her US Open win. He also coached Andy Murray from 2005 until April 2006. During this period, Murray significantly improved his ranking, moving from No. 351 to No. 41 in the world and securing his first ATP title in San Jose. However, this collaboration comes after Raducanu’s brief stint with Vlado Platenik, who served as an interim coach for two weeks during the Indian Wells Open
If you didn’t know, the two parted ways just before the Miami Open. Raducanu praised Platenik, saying, “He is a great coach. He’s so experienced. He’s worked with so many players and brought them up to the top and developed players. I respect him a lot as a coach,” but noted, “It just wasn’t right at the time.” This marked her second split since Nick Cavaday, who stepped down in January 2025 due to health reasons.
But is it normal to go through so many coaches? Well changing coaches is a common occurrence in professional tennis, but not all players switch as frequently as Emma. While Raducanu has had seven different coaches since her US Open win, other players like Naomi Osaka also experience multiple coaching changes. Osaka’s career has seen her work with Sascha Bajin, Jermaine Jenkins, Wim Fissette, and now Patrick Mouratoglou, former coach of Serena Williams.
As Raducanu noted in December, “It’s never really been my interest or philosophy to chop and change coaches. I’ve never really wanted that. I’m a very loyal person, whether that’s with my tennis or off the court. Or with what I eat. When I find something I like, I stick to it. I eat the same thing every single day. Same salmon every single day. I like those relationships and I think in the past, unfortunately, it hasn’t always worked like this.”