Emma Raducanu’s coach, Mark Petchey, has recently agreed with the ball theory put forward by World No. 7 Taylor Fritz, who described the condition of the Dunlop balls that will be used this year at the BNP Paribas Open, his upcoming event. Whereas Raducanu is also all set to compete at the same tournament, which will be held from March 4 to 15, 2026, at Indian Wells, California.
Emma Raducanu’s Coach, Mark Petchey, Agrees With Taylor Fritz’s Ball Theory
After wrapping up her Dubai Tennis Championships run with a round-of-64 loss to the lucky loser, Antonia Ružić, the British star is all set to compete at the Indian Wells Open, the WTA 1000 tournament whose defending champion is Russian star Mirra Andreeva. Ahead of the tournament, she is working with Petchey again, under whom she had trained for a few months last year.
After Petchey, Raducanu had started working with coach Francisco Roig, who had previously coached Spanish legend Rafael Nadal, and after less than six months, she announced their split. The decision came after her exit from the Australian Open after a second-round loss to Anastasia Potapova.
Petchey, the former player turned coach who has been reinstated alongside Raducanu, recently shared his thoughts in an X post, agreeing with Fritz’s views on the Dunlop balls to be used at the 2026 Indian Wells tournament.
Petchey added, “I have absolutely no idea what he is playing but he absolutely nails how the ball is here. The only thing that has lost more hair than the Dunlop ball in Indian Wells was my head in my 20’s.”
Whereas Fritz, while playing the World of Warcraft video game, discussed that Dunlop balls are slower when they are worn out and how the quality of the ball has been “dropped exponentially”. The American star also shared his thoughts in detail, comparing the balls and the court, and said he is waiting to see how the tournament will go for him with these balls.
When Raducanu was working under Roig, Petchey had reflected warm thoughts for the US Champion, expressing his loyalty and dedication, “Emma and I never fell out. I mean, it just got to the point where I felt like I couldn’t be the number one coach. I’m happy for her. I feel as though, listen, we still chat, we’re still in good communication, she’ll still run some stuff past me, I’ll help her forever, I’ll take a bullet for her.”
Raducanu’s coach had earlier worked with icon Andy Murray, whom he guided from World No. 351 to No. 41, and also coached Silvija Talaja to the Top 20 and Tina Pisnik to the Top 30 during their respective careers.
