Coach Blames Ball Weight for Raducanu’s Dip in Form
Raducanu’s Coach Cites Heavier Balls, Changing Game as Challenge in Comeback Bid
Emma Raducanu’s coach, Mark Petchey, believes that heavier tennis balls and a shifting game environment are among the key challenges affecting the British star’s efforts to climb back into the sport’s elite ranks.
Raducanu, who rose to global prominence by winning the 2021 US Open as a qualifier, was soundly beaten 6-1, 6-2 by world number one Iga Swiatek in the second round of the 2025 French Open.
Currently ranked 41st, the 22-year-old has struggled against top-tier opponents, winning only one of her nine matches against top-five players in her career.
Petchey, who has been informally coaching Raducanu since March, said the expectations surrounding her are still based on her 2021 breakthrough, despite how much the game has evolved since then.
“Everyone is still living in 2021, but the game has changed massively,” Petchey said. “The balls are—exaggerating slightly—four times heavier than they were back then, and Emma isn’t one of the biggest hitters on tour.”
He explained that on slow, windy days on clay, players like Raducanu struggle to hit through the court, particularly against dominant players like Swiatek.
Petchey, a former British number one and early coach to Andy Murray, stressed that Raducanu needs to focus on long-term development rather than short-term comparisons to her US Open triumph.
“My message to her has been simple: this is the real start of your career,” he said. “Forget the past. Let’s build something sustainable that people will judge two years from now.”
Raducanu has been without a full-time coach since Nick Cavaday stepped down in January due to health reasons.
Over the years, she has worked with several coaches, including Nigel Sears, Andrew Richardson, Torben Beltz, Dmitry Tursunov, and Sebastian Sachs.
Are Tennis Balls Really Heavier Now?
The claim that balls are significantly heavier today has been echoed by other players like Stan Wawrinka and Nick Kyrgios, who have noted that the shift toward slower, fluffier balls across tournaments may be increasing injury risk and changing match dynamics.
Professional tennis balls are regulated by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and must weigh between 56g and 59.4g, a range unchanged since 2000.
However, variations between brands, ball types, and how they behave in different conditions—like moisture and altitude—can create significant on-court differences.
Tournaments are free to choose their own ball suppliers, leading to further inconsistencies. For instance, Slazenger provides balls for Wimbledon, Wilson for the US and French Opens, and Dunlop for the Australian Open and the ATP Tour.
While the physical specifications of the balls haven’t changed in decades, the perception of “heaviness” may stem from how they interact with court surfaces and environmental factors, potentially disadvantaging players who rely on fast, aggressive shot-making.
As Raducanu continues to navigate her comeback, Petchey’s focus remains on narrowing the gap between her and the world’s best—regardless of what kind of ball is in play.