Emma Raducanu’s former coach, Mark Petchey, has fiercely defended the tennis star and her sponsorship deals after a report recently claimed she’d had her Porsche taken away.
The 21-year-old is currently battling to return from injury, having been out of action with a foot problem ever since the Korea Open last month.
Recently, the Daily Mail claimed Raducanu had had her Porsche taken away by the car company as a result of her inconsistent form.
She does, however, remain an ambassador for the brand and they’re happy with their partnership for the time being.
Emma Raducanu’s former coach, Mark Petchey, has fiercely defended the tennis star and her sponsorship deals after a report recently claimed she’d had her Porsche taken away
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Though she’s climbed up the world rankings in 2024, Raducanu is yet to win a singles title since her sensational victory at the US Open three years ago.
The tennis star has also been accused of focusing too much on sponsorship deals, rather than her sporting career.
But Petchey, speaking to Bally Casino, doesn’t think that’s the case – and insists people should stop attempting to put themselves in her shoes.
“I think it’s important for her to block out the noise,” he said.
“I think everyone’s going to have an opinion on her and broadcast it, but people are trying to insert themselves into her shoes which they have never worn before, even in their own career or life.
“But it is easy to say these things from the outside looking in.
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“When she won the US Open back in 2021, no blueprint or manual could explain what was going to happen in her life or career after that breakthrough moment.
“When you get offers for sponsorships and endorsements as a player, it’s very hard to turn those down, especially when she was young and new to the tour.
“There are very few players that would have done anything differently.”
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Emma Raducanu’s former coach Mark Petchey believes people should stop criticising the tennis star
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Petchey and Raducanu worked together for 10 months,
And the tennis coach insists that, while she’s stubborn, that’s also a good thing as she looks to return to the top.
“In the 10 months we worked together, I was even more impressed by her application, desire, and her inquisitive nature to learn about the game,” he continued.
“She’s stubborn in certain areas which is a great quality in tennis, you need that.
Emma Raducanu reportedly had her Porsche taken away after struggling on the tennis court
“You need to have a certain self-reliance; you need to be able to put things to one side and entertain thoughts that you don’t necessarily always need to implement into your game, but you must consider things.”
Raducanu, meanwhile, recently mocked reports saying she’d been forced to take public transport after having her Porsche taken away.
She was even recently spotted driving a new Porsche, having gone to pick it up, and took to social media to share a snap of herself boarding a bus while accompanying it with a money emoji and laughing emoji.
Raducanu is targeting a return from injury at next month’s Billie Jean King Cup finals. She is currently ranked No 58 in the world, having previously sat in 10th in 2022.