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Emma Raducanu aims to establish herself as one of the top athletes in tennis after enlisting the help of fitness coach Yutaka Nakamura.
Renowned for collaborating with Maria Sharapova and, more recently, Naomi Osaka, Nakamura will accompany Raducanu throughout the season.
Ongoing injuries since her remarkable win at the US Open in 2021 have caused Raducanu to spend significant time away from the court, making improvements in her physical fitness a critical step forward.
“I think he is going to assist me in really discovering how far I can go, athletically,” expressed the 22-year-old, who had formerly depended on the Lawn Tennis Association staff for her fitness guidance.
“I believe it’s a significant strength of mine that remains untapped. I think I can become one of the best athletes in tennis, and I’m eager to see how much I can accomplish.
“I feel he’s going to make a big impact with that, and the way I’m collaborating with him and Nick is much more cohesive.”
Raducanu has achieved consistency in her coaching arrangement over the past year with her childhood coach Nick Cavaday, and both he and Nakamura will accompany the British number two when she travels to Australia next Thursday.
I believe I can become one of the best athletes in tennis and I’m looking forward to discovering my potential.
Emma Raducanu
After training at the National Tennis Centre in London since aiding Britain in reaching the semi-finals of the Billie Jean King Cup last month, Raducanu will now head to Brisbane for some warm-weather training.
She plans to celebrate Christmas in New Zealand before competing in her first tournament of the new season in Auckland starting on December 30.
Having been sidelined for two months at the end of the 2024 season due to a foot injury, Raducanu is eager to participate as much as she can in the early weeks and is also keen to take part in Adelaide prior to the Australian Open, which commences on January 12.
“I feel like I’m in a great position to get on the court as often as possible,” remarked Raducanu, who is currently ranked 59th globally.
“I feel really strong and fit. The one thing I can’t fully attest to is that I haven’t played many matches. On the practice court, I feel fantastic. I feel agile and active on the court, but it’s a different experience in matches.
“I played a few (at Billie Jean King Cup) and I felt good. I felt like I recovered well. I didn’t tire in the matches. It will be interesting to see how I respond as the competition intensifies, particularly if I have to play more consecutively.”
The tennis community was shaken last week with news that Iga Swiatek received a one-month doping suspension after a positive test in August.
The five-time grand slam champion’s assertion that a supplement she ingested was tainted with a banned substance was accepted, and Raducanu admitted it has left her feeling unsettled.
“I think, in general, not just for me but for many players I know, we’re quite uneasy,” she mentioned.
“We’re all very conscious of what we consume and how easily contamination can occur. There are several supplements I might want to take but can’t because they’re over-the-counter and not batch-tested (pre-tested for banned substances).
“Batch testing something costs about £1,000 for each item, which is quite pricey. For essential items that you must take, it’s worth that, but it forces you to eliminate many products that you might normally use.
“I’m extremely cautious about what I consume and even where I leave my water, I’m always wary. But it’s just part of the sport. We all share the same concerns.”
