Emma Raducanu has hired fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura as she seeks to overcome the injuries that plagued the final years of her career.
Nakamura, 52, is one of tennis’ most respected fitness coaches, having worked with Grand Slam champions and world No. 1 Maria Sharapova and Naomi Osaka. He was at the National Tennis Center in London on Friday, where Raducanu confirmed the partnership.
“I think I can become one of the best athletes in tennis,” she told reporters. “I think he’ll really help with that.”
Raducanu confirmed talks with Nakamura at the Billie Jean King Cup in Malaga last month, where she helped Britain reach the semi-finals and won her singles in a 2-1 defeat to Slovakia . Nakamura will now fly to Brisbane with Raducanu’s team on Thursday December 12, where Raducanu will train with her friend Priscilla Hon, the Australian world number 167. She will not play at the WTA 500 Brisbane International, but will instead spend Christmas in Auckland before entering the WTA. 250 ASB Classic, which begins December 30.
Raducanu could also play at the Adelaide International (starting January 6) depending on qualification deadlines and his success in New Zealand. Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, is currently ranked No. 59, a major improvement from her ranking of No. 301 on January 1 of last year.
She missed the majority of the 2023 season after double wrist surgery and was only able to compete in 13 events due to more nagging injuries. After skipping the American hardcourt swing and leaving the US Open early, Raducanu sprained ligaments in his foot in his first Asian hardcourt swing tournament after deliberately skewing his schedule toward that part of the tournament. ‘year. She did not return to the field until the Billie Jean King Cup.
The 22-year-old is determined to improve her fitness and said Friday that Nakamura would be with her “almost most weeks.” He will be an essential part of the team, alongside his coach Nick Cavaday.
“I feel really strong,” Raducanu said, adding that “the only thing I can’t talk about is that I haven’t played as many matches.”
“It would be good to see as the level increases, and if I have to play more consecutively, how I will react,” she said.
Raducanu said she felt a kinship with Nakamura because of their mutual intensity on the training ground, without “chattering about other things.”
“I think he’s going to help me explore how far I can go athletically.” I think it’s a great strength of mine that I’m far from fully exploiting,” she said.
Raducanu has struggled to stay fit for extended periods since win the US Open aged 18 three years ago; she now wants to see what she can do with a series of clean matches. Compatriot Jack Draper had a similar journey until last season, during which he played his most matches on tour and achieved his best results (US Open semi-final, two ATP Tour titles) and his world ranking (No. 15) to date.
The first big target for Raducanu is the Australian Open, which begins on Sunday January 12 in Melbourne.
This article was originally published in Athletics.
Tennis, Women’s Tennis
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