Mark Petchey insists he ‘genuinely believes’ Emma Raducanu can win the US Open four years after her incredible victory at Flushing Meadow.
Raducanu began her US Open campaign with an impressive 6-1 6-2 victory over Japanese qualifier Ena Shibahara.
Before the victory, the British number one had now won a match at Flushing Meadows since her memorable US Open triumph in 2021.
Raducanu admitted she was anxious over the timing of her opening match but dispatched of Shibahara in just 62 minutes, dropping only three games.
The 22-year-old returns to action on Wednesday with a second-round match against Janice Tjen of Indonesia.
Assessing Raducanu’s chances in New York before her opening win, Petchey – who coached the Brit on an informal basis earlier this year – said: ‘She’s close, I genuinely think she’s close. I really do.
‘She’s got something that you can’t teach, which is complete courage. She’s an unbelievable athlete. I’d back her in nearly every situation if she can get sets to four all to beat most players.
‘And she loves the big stage. And not everybody does love the big stage. Not everybody goes out there and embraces it.
‘I honestly say this, and I’m not saying this for effect, I honestly think she could win the US Open. I really do.
‘A few things may have to go a certain way for her in terms of certain opponents who, at the moment, don’t match up well for her in game style.
‘But if the draw fell in a kind way – and I don’t think the draw needs to fall in a kind way for her to make quarters or semis – I’m talking about fall in a kind way to actually win.’
Emma Raducanu following her opening US Open win
‘When I saw the Sunday schedule, I thought first day, first match at 11am – you don’t want to be out of the tournament by 12:30pm on a Sunday.
‘That definitely was on my mind. At the same time, if it goes well you get the afternoon off, which is really nice before your day off in between matches.
‘I’m pleased I can enjoy the rest of my day and celebrate the win.
‘I thought it was a very clean performance, especially for the first round where there are nerves. I broke a barrier of not winning a match here for four years.
‘It is a relief. I’m happy to have stopped that and feel I can keep going without that in my head.’
While Petchey is hopeful of a deep run for Raducanu in New York, he views Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek as the player to beat in the women’s draw.
Swiatek, 24, won the US Open in 2022 and has six Grand Slam titles in total following her victory at the All England Club last month.
‘On the women’s side I’d take Iga,’ Petchey told OLBG when asked for his prediction.
‘I really like the way that she’s playing at the moment. She’s obviously won it before. Things have clicked for her since Wimbledon, she played awesome there.
‘It tends to be that when these players start feeling good about themselves, it takes a hell of a performance for somebody to beat them.
‘And because she has such a unique style of play, with the heavy spin on both sides, I like her chances.
‘I would say number one is Iga Swiatek. Iga’s a massive rival. Iga’s ground strokes have caused Emma a lot of problems.
‘I also think Coco Gauff, in those conditions, can be a big handful. I think Elena Rybakina is back close to playing near her best and I think she’s somebody again that can take the racket completely out of your hand at times when she’s playing unbelievable tennis.
‘Those big hitters and those players with serves that get enough free points are dangerous.
‘I do think if the conditions are similar to Cincinnati that will be very beneficial for Emma. I think that that will be a great leveller for her and a big advantage for her.’
In the men’s draw, Andy Murray’s former coach Petchey has backed Jannik Sinner to defend his US Open title.
Sinner, 24, has won four Grand Slam titles since the start of 2024, including last month’s Wimbledon, where he beat Carlos Alcaraz in the final.
‘I would go with Jannik on the men’s side,’ Petchey said. ‘In terms of the Americans, Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz would be the top two picks.
‘If I had to pick one, it would be Ben. His game has come on leaps and bounds. His rally tolerance is in a different league to how it was two years ago. The serve looks more fluid.
‘Half of the time he’s played a major, he’s been in the second week. The guy loves the best of five, loves the big occasion.’
Assessing British number one Jack Draper’s chances of causing an upset in New York, Petchey added: ‘I am not that worried about someone like Jack who hasn’t played much going into the tournament.
‘The fact that he’s had to look after his body is a good thing. I think he’ll feel so fresh.
‘A lot depends on how cleanly Jack can get through the first week. If he can, by dropping only one or two sets at best, then I love his chances.
‘Anyone that thinks he can’t win it now is wrong. Jannik and Carlos have somewhat separated themselves from the field, but I give Jack in those conditions more than a puncher’s chance to go on and beat them.
‘You never know, if you get through to that end part of the second week you may not have to beat them both.’
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