Emma Raducanu: Less is More for Me in Terms of Managing My Season
British tennis star Emma Raducanu has revealed that she has learned to adopt a more measured approach to managing her season, saying "less is more" for her. In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports, Raducanu discussed her decision to take a break from competition after reaching the quarter-finals of the Miami Open in March.
Raducanu, who won the 2021 US Open, has been working with coach Mark Petchey on a informal basis, and revealed that she is taking a more relaxed approach to her training. "I’ve realised now that less is more for me sometimes," she said. "I work really intense and really hard and can definitely be partial to overkilling it sometimes. 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."
Raducanu’s comments come as she prepares to compete in the Madrid Open, where she will face Dutch world No 69 Suzan Lamens in the first round, live on Sky Sports Tennis. The 22-year-old has been drawn to face Aryna Sabalenka in the quarter-finals, should she progress.
According to Sky Sports, Raducanu’s new approach to managing her season is a result of her realisation that she needs to balance her intense training with rest and recovery. "You hear a lot that people need matches, and I say the same thing," she said. "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."
Raducanu’s projected draw at the Madrid Open is as follows:
- R1 – Suzan Lamens
- R2 – Marta Kostyuk
- R3 – Paula Badosa/Veronika Kudermetova
- R4 – Qinwen Zheng/Sofia Kenin
- QF – Aryna Sabalenka/Amanda Anisimova
- SF – Jessica Pegula/Jasmine Paolini/Elena Rybakina/Ons Jabeur
- F – Iga Swiatek/Coco Gauff/Mirra Andreeva/Madison Keys
Sky Sports understands that Raducanu remains in search of a new coach, despite working with Petchey in Miami. "We haven’t made anything formal," she said. "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."
Former British tennis star Tim Henman, speaking on Sky Sports Tennis, believes that Raducanu’s new approach to managing her season could pay dividends. "She talks about having fun and being authentic, that gives her the opportunity of expressing herself on the court," he said. "But, for me, it’s building physical resilience, I think is the most important thing. That is what has been lacking because she’s almost had her career back to front, qualifying, winning that Grand Slam without really the physical foundation."
Henman also believes that Raducanu has the potential to shine on clay this year, despite playing only a limited clay-court programme last year. "I’m sure Emma would like to do well on clay and grass this year and play a full schedule," said Laura Robson, a fellow British tennis player. "Clay is great for developing all areas of the game. Tactically, it’s a great surface to learn how to turn around matches when you are behind in slower conditions."
The Madrid Open will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with Brits Jack Draper, Raducanu, Katie Boulter, and Sonay Kartal all set to compete. The tournament will also feature Novak Djokovic, who will be playing under the guidance of coach Andy Murray.
Sky Sports customers can watch the ATP and WTA Tours, as well as the US Open in New York, live in 2025, or stream with NOW and the Sky Sports app. Find out more here.
