Emma Raducanu's coach Mark Petchey has opened up on working with the former US Open champion for the first time since his surprise appointment to her team in March. 

The 22-year-old has amassed a legion of ex-coaches since her meteoric rise to claim her first Grand Slam in Flushing Meadows almost four years ago, with her previous coach, Vlado Platenik, lasting just 14 days. 

Petchey has strong coaching credentials, having worked with three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray, but appointing the 54-year-old comes with strings attached for Raducanu. 

Alongside his responsibilities for his player, Petchey remains contracted to the Tennis Channel, where he works as a commentator and pundit. 

Petchey was unable to attend Raducanu's French Open first-round match against Wang Xinyu as a result, but his absence proved no obstacle to the former British No 1 bypassing her opponent 7-5, 4-6, 6-3. 

Ahead of her meeting with defending champion Iga Swiatek on Wednesday, Petchey revealed where he has been able to help Raducanu most since linking up with the player.  

'I knew Emma since 2020 and I kind of have been tracking a few things, so when she asked me to help in Miami, I was aware of the things that I wanted to change, or help her and see whether it helped her - more weight on the racket changing the string pattern for example,' Petchey told TNT Sports. 

'Serve was something that she wasn't feeling that comfortable with, which is what we worked on a new motion in LA. 

'The string, to be fair, I think, have really helped her forehand, particularly on the clay. 

'If you can break the sidelines, on the clay court, you've got a great chance of dominating the rallies.

'I like the challenge for her, because, you know, in the last few weeks, obviously, she's played some really good players and some big ball hitters, and I think that's been important to her.'

Raducanu has been enjoying a promising spell on clay, a surface British players have traditionally had a harder time getting to grips with, with a number of confidence-boosting wins under her belt in Madrid, Rome, and Strasbourg. 

But the 22-year-old will have a mountain to climb against Swiatek, who has made Philippe-Chatrier a fortress after claiming four French Open titles on the court since 2020, and a bronze medal at last year's Olympic Games. 

Petchey however remains confident that win or lose, there remains a very high ceiling for his player, and is adamant that her form at the 2021 US Open was not the pinnacle of her game. 

'Listen, I was still reading an interview from Alex De Minaur today, and he was talking about the improvements that he's made and still feels like he needs to make,' Petchey continued.

'And I think that everybody needs to understand that, you know, Emma at this stage of her career, despite what she's already achieved, has some work ahead of her to be the best player that she can be.'

Raducanu has been amenable to Petchey's other job, sharing this week that she went into the arrangement with open eyes. 

Instead of hindering her, Petchey's occasional absence has made her 'more self-sufficient'. 

Raducanu also relies upon the support of Jayne O'Donoghue, her childhood mentor turned financier who is taking a sabbatical from her day job, and Loughborough coach Tom Welsh - and on Monday, Petchey's daughter Myah.

‘I actually think having her there really helped – because I was like, “it’s a mini-Mark”,’ said Raducanu.

‘She’s going to hate me for saying that. I’ve got to know her well, so having her support there - and she was standing there for the whole three hours and didn’t go. I really appreciated that. She’s a great girl. Having her there definitely was like a little symbolic representation of Mark.’

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