Emma Raducanu announces a big move that could transform her career
Emma Raducanu has struggled to stay on court for long periods since winning the 2021 US Open, but now she has announced a move that could help to reignite her career.
The 22-year-old Brit has endured plenty of highs and lows after her life was transformed following her remarkable in in New York a little over three years ago.
That success spawned inevitable hype that has weighed heavily on her shoulders, with injuries the big obstacle to her ambitions in the last couple of years.
She underwent three different surgeries that ended her 2023 season early and has struggled with niggling injuries in 2024, with the second half of her season notable for the lack of time she has spent on court.
Now Raducanu has made a big move to change her fitness fortunes after hiring fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura.
Known for his work with Maria Sharapova and, more recently, Naomi Osaka, Nakamura will travel with Raducanu throughout the season.
“I think he is going to help me just really explore how far I can go, athletically,” said the 22-year-old, who has been working with Lawn Tennis Association staff for her fitness training up to this point.
“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 also gave a positive update on how her body reacted to three matches at the Billie Jean King Cup in Malaga last month, as she won three times for Great Britain.
“I feel like I’m in a pretty good place to just get on court as much as I can,” added Raducanu.
“I feel really strong. I feel really fit. The only thing I can’t really speak for is I haven’t played that many matches. 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 Billie Jean King Cup) and I felt good. I felt like I recovered well. I wasn’t tired 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.”
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This has the potential to be a hugely significant appointment for Raducanu, who proved she is a real force in the game when she has been on court in 2024.
Her run to the fourth round at Wimbledon was backed up by appearances in six WTA Tour quarter-finals and an appearance in the semi-finals of the Nottingham Open in June.
She also recorded her first win against a top ten ranked player when she beat Jessica Pegula at Eastbourne and if she can maintain her fitness in 2025, there is every reason to believe Raducanu can make a break back into the top 20 of the WTA Rankings in double quick time.
Former British No 1 Henman believes she needs to “build up resilience” if she wants to achieve a higher ranking come next year.
Raducanu peaked at No 10 in the WTA Rankings in July 2022 and Henman feels top 30 is a “realistic” goal for 2025.
“I think the challenge for Raducanu is around physical resilience,” the former world No 4 said on the Sky Sports Tennis podcast.
“You talk about Katie Boulter and all the improvements that she made. Yes, she has got better as a tennis player, her movement has improved, but it’s also the resilience to be able to play that full schedule.
“You saw Katie at the end of the year playing four or five tournaments in a row. She made a final in Hong Kong, at the last event of the year and finished in the top 25.
“Raducanu has had a decent year going from sort of 300 into the top 60 but, when you look at the amount of tennis she’s played, she hasn’t played a great deal. If she builds up that resilience, every time she steps on the court, she was playing good tennis.
“Therefore, top 50, top 30 in 2025, I think is completely realistic.”
