Yutaka Nakamura appears to be completely having fun with working with Emma Raducanu because the energy and conditioning coach has described the 22-year-old as somebody who could be very nice to be round.
In case you missed it, the 2021 US Open champion confirmed late final week that she added Maria Sharapova’s ex-fitness coach to her crew.
After battling a couple of niggles earlier within the 12 months, the British tennis star sustained her most severe harm of the season in mid-October when she sprained ligaments in her foot whereas competing on the WTA 500 event in Seoul. Whereas she was out for the following two months, experiences began to emerge that she was trying to rent a big-time energy and conditioning coach.
Finally, it occurred. In his occupation, Nakamura is considered among the best on the Tour, having labored with Sharapova for six years. Additionally, he collaborated with four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka.
“She (Emma) is a lovely person, a really good person,” the 52-year-old informed Sky Sports activities’ Gigi Salmon.
Yutaka Nakamura© YouTube screenshot
How Raducanu feels about Nakamura?
Earlier than the 2 agreed on a partnership, they spent a while collectively to see the way it might presumably look. And since their trial interval that got here earlier than the Billie Jean King Cup Finals was a hit, the previous world No. 10 did not should assume a lot about what needs to be her subsequent step.
When asserting Nakamura as her new crew member, Raducanu mentioned that they’d the same work ethic and angle towards sure issues.
“He’s going to be with me so much subsequent 12 months. I’m actually wanting ahead to it. I believe it’s good as a result of as an individual, I believe we’re fairly comparable within the sense that we’re very centered with our work. After we work, we’re not like speaking or chit-chatting about different issues. It’s very very similar to that is our time to focus,” the current world No. 57 told British reporters at the National Tennis Centre in London.
Emma Raducanu© LTA/Instagram – Fair Use
Raducanu is hoping Nakamura can lead her to the Promised Land
It is not a secret that the British tennis star hasn’t been one of the strongest players on the WTA Tour over the last couple of years. That was especially the case during the 2022 and 2023 seasons, when she dealt with several injuries – some of them were pretty serious – and it all resulted in her having surgeries to both wrists and her foot.
However, Raducanu still believes that she has the potential to be “among the best athletes” on the WTA Tour. And she hired Nakamura because she hopes he can help her achieve that.
“I believe he’s going to assist me simply actually discover how far I can go, like athletically. I believe it is a massive energy of mine that I’ve nowhere close to fulfilled. I believe I can develop into among the best athletes on the market in tennis and I am simply wanting ahead to seeing how a lot I can do. My pure athleticism is one thing that I’ve to make use of. I’ve to hone it, I’ve to shine it, it is nonetheless fairly uncooked and I do not assume wherever close to absolutely developed so he will assist me discover that,” she claimed.
After missing action for two months, Raducanu made a comeback in mid-November during the BJK Cup Finals action. In Malaga, she won all of her three singles matches before Great Britain ultimately fell short to Slovakia in the semifinal.
“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’m throwing myself around, but it’s different playing matches. I played a few at Fed Cup [now the Billie Jean King Cup], and 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 [matches] back-to-back, how I’m going to react,” the 2021 US Open champion mentioned.
This Thursday, Raducanu will fly to Australia. In Brisbane, she’s going to crew up with fellow WTA participant and good pal Priscilla Hon for apply earlier than she heads to New Zealand round Christmas for her first event of the 12 months.
“We’re going to hit, grasp on the market, get within the warmth. I didn’t need to go straight to Auckland as a result of in case you get to a event too early, you type of get a bit stale earlier than the match. So I wished to go there when it’s event time,” she revealed final week.
Raducanu’s 2025 season will formally begin on the WTA 250 event in Auckland, which kicks off on December thirtieth.
