“I feel really strong and really fit” – Raducanu

The Brit has begun working with trainer Yutaka Nakamura, who earlier worked with Maria Sharapova and Naomi Osaka

Emma Raducanu at the WTA Porsche Grand Prix

December 7, 2024

Former US Open champion Emma Raducanu has said she feels physically as strong as she ever has ahead of the new tennis season, which kicks off at the end of this month.

Raducanu, whose body has let her down several times since her historic US Open title run in 2021, has started working with renowned trainer Yutaka Nakamura as she hopes to become one of the best athletes in the sport.

“I feel really strong. I feel really fit,” Raducanu told a group of British reporters on Friday. “The only thing I can’t really speak for, is I haven’t played that many matches. So it’s different. On the training court I feel amazing. I feel like I’m running around, throwing myself around on the court, but it’s different playing matches. I played a few at Fed Cup, and I felt good. I felt like I recovered well. I wasn’t tiring in the matches. It would just be good to see as the level increases, and if I have to play more back-to-back, how I’m going to react.”

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.

The Briton, who climbed back into the top 60 in the rankings this year after dropping out of the top 300, believes Nakamura is a good fit in her team because they both are similar in nature when they are working.

“I think it’s nice because as a person, I think we’re quite similar in the sense that we’re very focused with our work,” Raducanu said.

“When we work, we’re not like talking or chitchatting about other things. It’s very much like this is our time to focus. When we’re off the court or at the gym, then we talk about whatever. On the court, it’s not like chitchat and stuff. So I think it’s nice to have someone who’s on the same sort of wavelength as you.

“I think he is going to help me just really explore how far I can go, like athletically. I think it’s a big strength of mine that I have nowhere near fulfilled. 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. And I think he’s really going to help with that. And the way I’m working with him and Nick, it’s a lot more integrated.”

Raducanu confirmed that she will begin her season in Auckland and then may play Adelaide before heading to Melbourne for the Australian Open.