"Hope it's able to last through the grass court season": Jim Courier shares Emma Raducanu Mark Petchey Wimbledon hope

Jim Courier has shared his hope that Emma Raducanu can make it work with her new coach Mark Petchey who is working with her semi on ad hoc basis with the former coach of Andy Murray in high demand for Tennis Channel.

Of course it is not a job he would give up lightly and so Petchey is juggling those commitments. But Courier who works with Petchey on the channel said that the fact they are familiar with each other helps and that he hopes it lasts until Wimbledon at least.

“When covid hit, they went to work together, in private in the UK, so he knew her before she became a star,” said the legendary American to Tennis Channel.

“That’s obviously important for her in a time when she’s not been able to find a regular relationship with coaches.

“Relying on someone that she knew before it happened is really important so I don’t know how long it can last, but frankly the fact that they’re spending time together right now is really important. What I do hope is that it’s able to last at least through the grass court season.”

Courier added that there is no expectation on Raducanu on clay and that it will be the grass where she really sinks or swims in that regard in terms of the partnership.

“No-one’s expecting her to play well on clay, it’s not a natural surface for her,” Courier added.

“Grass is a surface where she first surfaced, she made the round 16 before she won the US Open at Wimbledon so for me, it’s about the building blocks for the grass court season.

“What I do know already is he’s already changed her service motion by adding more shoulder turn there which is the idea is to try and give her a little bit more disguise and a little more power. But I think overall this is a net positive for her on so many levels, we’ll see where it goes.”