Emma Raducanu has appointed Maria Sharapova’s former fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura as her first full-time fitness coach, setting her sights on becoming “one of the best athletes” in tennis.
The British No 2, who has struggled with injuries since her remarkable 2021 US Open victory, is looking to build her on-court resilience with this significant addition to her team.
Nakamura, who also worked with Naomi Osaka, will join Raducanu’s coaching setup as she prepares for the new season.
Raducanu expressed enthusiasm about working with her new fitness coach, stating: “Yutaka’s going to be with me a lot next year, pretty much most weeks.”
Emma Raducanu has had injury issues this year againPA
The former US Open champion highlighted their compatible working styles, noting: “I think we’re quite similar in the sense that we’re very focused with our work.”
She believes Nakamura will help her reach her full athletic potential in a warning to her rivals on tour.
“I think I can become one of the best athletes out there in tennis and I’m just looking forward to seeing how much I can do,” she said.
The partnership will see Nakamura working closely with Raducanu’s coach Nick Cavaday in what she describes as “a lot more integrated” approach.
Raducanu will begin her preparations by flying to Australia with coach Nick Cavaday on December 12.
Emma Raducanu returned to action at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals
REUTERS
The British star plans to spend a week training on the Gold Coast in Brisbane with Australian player Priscilla Hon.
She explained her strategic approach to the pre-season schedule: “I didn’t want to go straight to Auckland because if you get to a tournament too early, you kind of get a bit stale before the match.”
Following her Brisbane training block, Raducanu will spend Christmas in New Zealand before competing in the Auckland tournament, which begins on December 30.
Her carefully planned schedule aims to help her acclimatise to the heat of the Southern Hemisphere summer.
Raducanu reports feeling in strong physical condition ahead of the new season, despite her recent injury layoff.
“I feel really strong. I feel really fit,” she said, though acknowledging match fitness remains untested.
LATEST SPORT NEWS:
Emma Raducanu is hoping to put her injury issues behind her
REUTERS
Her recent Billie Jean King Cup Finals appearances have provided encouraging signs. “I felt good. I felt like I recovered well. I wasn’t tiring in the matches,” she revealed.
The 21-year-old is considering adding the Adelaide tournament to her schedule before the Australian Open begins in Melbourne on January 12.