Emma Raducanu has officially reunited with her former coach Nick Cavaday for the 2025 grasscourt season, including Wimbledon.
After parting ways in January due to Nick Cavaday’s health issues, the pair are back working together, joined by Mark Petchey, another familiar face in Emma Raducanu’s team.
“I’m happy to see him healthy, first of all,” Raducanu said when asked about the coaching reunion. “It’s been such a long time since we were last on court together in Australia, and with Mark in Paris commentating, Nick was around, so it was nice to just have a few days with him.”
Both coaches will be part of her team during the grasscourt swing. “They’ll both be helping me throughout the grass [season],” she added. “I think having Mark and Nick, both people who have banks of experience, they can complement each other really well and I trust both of them a lot.”
Raducanu, who shot to fame after winning the US Open in 2021, has faced her share of setbacks since. One ongoing challenge has been her struggle with a recurring back issue, which recently flared up again.
“I have had a small interruption with a back spasm again so that was a bit annoying,” she admitted. “That kind of hindered my grass prep, but the last few days I’ve managed to get on the grass and just begin to feel my feet.”
Managing her back has become part of her daily routine, and it’s something she’s had to accept. “It’s something that comes and goes. I just have to manage what I can take care of and, if these things happen, I just need to deal with it and keep doing the right things.”
She noted that the injury affected her performance in Strasbourg and also lingered during the French Open. “When I was playing in Strasbourg in my second-round match, it definitely hindered me, and first round in Paris but I got through.”
Despite the setbacks, Raducanu is staying optimistic. “It can be frustrating, but I try not to let it get to me. I think I have a pretty good feel of when it happens, what to do and how to manage it. It does take a few days out, but all I can do is deal with what’s in front of me.”
With the grasscourt season now in full swing, fans are hopeful that the reunited team of Cavaday and Petchey can help Raducanu find form ahead of Wimbledon. Her fitness will be key, but the 22-year-old seems ready to take on the challenge.
Alex Carter is an experienced sports journalist with over a decade of covering international and domestic sports events. From the roar of football stadiums to the high-octane energy of F1 tracks, Alex delivers in-depth analysis and exclusive interviews with sports icons. His passion for sports extends to coaching local youth teams on weekends.
