Emma Raducanu expresses that she feels ‘incredibly fit’ ahead of the upcoming Australian Open – Getty Images/Fran Santiago Emma Raducanu has announced the hiring of experienced fitness coach Yutaka Nakamura and anticipated that his skills will assist her in becoming “one of the leading athletes in tennis.” A well-known presence on the tour, Nakamura previously […]
Emma Raducanu has announced the hiring of experienced fitness coach Yutaka Nakamura and anticipated that his skills will assist her in becoming “one of the leading athletes in tennis.”
A well-known presence on the tour, Nakamura previously supported Maria Sharapova in maintaining her elite status for eight years and also collaborated with Naomi Osaka during her peak years in the majors. His upcoming partnership with Raducanu was initially revealed by Telegraph Sport a month prior.
Nakamura will join Raducanu on her trip to Brisbane this Thursday for a prolonged period of training in hot conditions. Her first competition of 2025 will take place in Auckland – in fact, the tournament commences on Dec 29, reflecting the relentless schedule of tennis – and she also intends to participate in Adelaide in the week leading up to the Australian Open in Melbourne in January.
“I just want to acclimate to the heat a bit sooner,” Raducanu communicated to the media during a pre-season conference on Friday. “Yutaka will be accompanying me significantly next year. We share a common focus in our work: we aren’t distracted by chatting or anything unrelated.
“It’s beneficial to have someone who resonates with your mindset. I believe he will assist me in truly exploring my athletic potential. It’s a considerable strength that I have yet to fully tap into. I think I have the potential to be one of the top athletes in tennis. The collaborative effort with him and Nick [Cavaday, her coach] is becoming seamlessly integrated.”
‘I’m moving around a lot on the training court’
Raducanu has continued to display signs of physical vulnerability in 2024, participating in only 36 matches, while world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka competed in 70. Raducanu faced just one “official” injury, having sprained foot ligaments in Seoul in September, which curtailed her Asian tour; however, it’s reported that she also sustained an abdominal muscle injury in August.
By welcoming Nakamura into her team, Raducanu has shown a commitment to enhancing this aspect of her game. Moreover, her intent to compete in Adelaide before the Australian Open indicates increasing confidence in her physical durability.
“I feel incredibly strong,” stated Raducanu, who has undergone extensive training since her foot injury recovery. “I feel in excellent shape. The only aspect I can’t comment on is the limited number of matches I’ve participated in.
“On the training court, I feel fantastic, moving around actively, but competition play is a different experience. I participated in a few matches at the Fed Cup [now the Billie Jean King Cup], and I felt I recovered just fine. I didn’t experience fatigue during those matches. It would be valuable to observe how I react as the level intensifies, especially if I have to compete in consecutive matches.”
Regarding her choice of Brisbane, Tennis Australia maintains a base there, and Raducanu will practice with a friend, Australian No 9 Priscilla Hon. “We’ll be hitting and spending time there to acclimatize to the heat,” she mentioned. “I didn’t want to head straight to Auckland because arriving at a tournament too early can lead to feeling a bit stale before the competition. So, I preferred to go there right when it’s time for the tournament.”
‘Many players worry about supplements’
During Friday’s discussion, Raducanu was also inquired about the recent issue surrounding Iga Swiatek’s tainted melatonin supplements, which resulted in Swiatek facing a one-month ban after testing positive for trimetazidine. Raducanu explained that concerns over unintentional contamination are a constant reality for tennis athletes.
“It’s not just me; many players I know are quite cautious,” Raducanu shared. “We are very conscious of everything we consume and how easy it is for contamination to occur. There are particular supplements I might desire to take, but I refrain because they aren’t batch-tested and are available over the counter.
“Batch-testing a product may require a significant cost of about a thousand dollars for just one item, making it quite a financial burden. For essential items, it’s justifiable to bear the expense. However, it requires eliminating numerous options that we might consider. I exercise great care regarding what I consume and drink. If I leave my water unattended, I feel quite uneasy about it. But this is simply part of the sport. We all face the same challenges.”
