Emma Raducanu set to make big announcement – now she needs to stick with the plan
Emma Raducanu is looking to make a key addition to her team ahead of the 2025 season and she needs to show patience with those around her if she is to succeed next year.
Raducanu has chopped and changed coaches, fitness advisers and a variety of members of her set-up since her iconic US open win in 2021 and from the outside looking in, it appears the stability she needs to succeed has been lacking.
Raducanu has confirmed she is in talks to add a renowned fitness trainer to her team as she bids to make a successful return from her latest injury lay-off.
The 22-year-old has revealed a deal to hire fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura, who previously worked with Maria Sharapova and Naomi Osaka, is not yet signed off, although talks are progressing, and said she is “ready to commit” to physical improvements.
Raducanu has climbed more than 200 places in the rankings this year after sitting out most of last season following operations on both wrists and one ankle but has played fewer tournaments than almost anyone else in the top 60 and only three since Wimbledon.
“I think my goal next year is to stay on court longer,” said Raducanu, who had previously cited a desire to keep her team small as a reason for not hiring a full-time fitness trainer and relying on Lawn Tennis Association staff at their Roehampton base in south London.
“This year I came to top 60 in the world, but I played I think less than 15 events. I know if I’m on court and healthy and competing, I can go even higher and further.
“I think that my athleticism is a strength of mine, but it’s nowhere near its full potential. I’m just looking forward to exploring that further, and ready to commit to doing that.
“While it’s the end of the season for a lot of players, I feel I’m just beginning to kick-start and get things in motion, training really well, training hard, and already building towards next year. I’m not really looking to have any more time off.”
The addition of a fitness expert would be a step forward for Raducanu, with former British No 1 Tim Henman suggesting the constant lay-off are harming her development.
“The element she has struggled the most with is her physical resilience,” Henman told Sky Sports Tennis.
“We talk about these long seasons and about being out there competing on tour and she is still trying to build that resilience.
“You look at her match count and I think she only played 31 matches on the tour, but she still finished in the top 60.
“In terms of an investment, bringing on someone like that (Nakamura), it would be really good news.”
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It’s clear that Raducanu is motivated to hit the ground running next year and after making a winning return to action in Great Briatain’s Bille Jean King Cup win against Germany after her latest injury lay-off, it’s clear he level is close to where she needs to be to break back into the top 30 of the WTA Rankings.
Any player who starts a year well outside the top 200 and ends up knocking on the door of a top 50 finish would be hailing that season as a success.
The harsh reality is Raduvanu operates to different rules compared to other young players, as expectations around her will always be sky high after that game-changing US Open win three years ago.
Yet if she can stay fit and get a run of matches under her belt without an unwanted break, there is every reason to believe Raducanu can start getting to the back end of the big events on a WTA Tour lacking strength in depth at the top of the game.
