“Less Is More”- Post-Miami Pause Revealed as Emma Raducanu Reflects on Intensity Burnout

After a rollercoaster ride of injuries and fluctuating form, Emma Raducanu declared in December 2024 that she had reached a “turning point,” her primary goal for the year ahead being simply to “stay healthy.” This ambition was underscored by her hiring of esteemed fitness coach Yukata Nakamura. While 2025 has seen her compete in a season-high seven tournaments within the first three months, a concerning episode arose during her Miami Open quarterfinal against Jessica Pegula, where she reported feeling “really dizzy…faint.” This promising run in Miami was unexpectedly followed by withdrawals from the BJK Cup qualifiers in The Hague and the Rouen Open. A statement from her management cited the need for “a little space in the calendar to best look after her body.” Turns out the break has led to self realization for the young Brit.

Raducanu’s sudden withdrawal left British BJK Cup team captain, Annie Keothavong, a bit “disappointed” and even American tennis legend, Andy Roddick, looked a bit shocked by this decision, saying “She just found her form… why is she recalibrating? What does that mean? She looked great. She looked like a top-10 player in Miami. Why stop now?” 

He further added, “I get so frustrated. I’m such a fan of hers. I like listening to her reasoning on things, but you get to the quarter-finals, you are finally getting momentum and then you stop. Why put a speed bump in the middle of your season? It just happens over and over.” Raducanu has now answered all these questions. 

A day before kicking off her campaign at the Madrid Open against Dutch world No 69 Suzan Lamens on Wednesday, Raducanu joined Sky Sports Tennis for an interview. “I’ve realized now that less is more for me sometimes. I work really intense and really hard and can definitely be partial to overkilling it sometimes,” she began. So how much less is more for the Brit?

“It’s just making sure when I’m on the court I’m maxing out for X amount of time so I can focus, and then once I’m done, I’m switching off better. You hear a lot that people need matches, and I say the same thing. Matches definitely help, but there’s a time and a place. There are other times where you just need to reset and get your bearings because the season is very long. I’m trying to take it day-by-day but I knew at that point in the season [post-Miami Open] I needed some time off,” she explained further.

March 22, 2023, MIAMI, UNITED STATES: Emma Raducanu of Great Britain talks to the media after the first round of the 2023 Miami Open WTA, Tennis Damen 1000 tennis tournament MIAMI UNITED STATES – ZUMAa181 20230322_zaa_a181_017 Copyright: xRobxPrangex

During her post-Miami break, Emma Raducanu engaged in a brief ten-day training block in Los Angeles, working with the well-regarded coach Mark Petchey before returning to Europe. Her time in LA also included enjoying hiking excursions in the surrounding mountains. Speaking more about her experience, she stated,

“I’m happy with [the training block] and how I’m feeling on the court right now. I think I did some great work on my game and I’m looking forward to testing it on a match court I was just working on movement and adapting and getting used to the court surface…I did some great work with Mark out there, it was nice to be around him, not just on the court. He’s someone I get on really well with, and we always have very thought-provoking, interesting conversations. It was a perfect balance of work and being relaxed off the court.“

Navigating the turbulent waters of her career, Emma Raducanu’s most persistent challenge has been finding a consistent and effective coaching partnership – a fact underscored by her having worked with seven different coaches in under four years. As she prepared to begin her Madrid Open campaign, Raducanu offered a recent update on her coaching situation, specifically addressing the role of the experienced Mark Petchey.

Emma Raducanu revealed her status with coach Mark Petchey

Ever since Nick Cavaday’s departure from her team due to health reasons, Emma Raducanu has been without a full-time coach. Although she hired Vladimír Pláteník on a trial basis, even that didn’t last long. During the Miami Open, Andy Murray’s former coach, Mark Petchey, was spotted sitting alongside Jane O’Donoghue in Raducanu’s box. Speaking about these additions to her team, Raducanu had then said, “really good people around me who I trust.” Seeing this partnership clicking right from day one, fans wondered if she had already signed an agreement with Petchey or not. So, has she?

Replying to all those queries, Raducanu said, “We haven’t made anything formal. It’s pretty informal for now, but is something that’s going really well. He’s [Petchey] someone I feel I can trust because I’ve known him so long. For now, it’s working really well, and it’s nice to be with someone that I feel comfortable with. I’m still figuring things out: what works for me, what doesn’t. What gets the best out of me. For now, I’m not getting as technical as I used to, maybe,” in the same interview.

Emma Raducanu’s history at the Madrid Open presents a contrast: a promising third-round appearance on her debut in 2022 followed by a swift first-round loss in 2024. This year’s projected draw presents a higher chance of her facing Paula Badosa, Qinwen Zheng, and Aryna Sabalenka before the SF at the Madrid Open. Can informal coaching partnership with Mark Petchey help Raducanu sail through the tough challenges in the Spanish capital? 

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