Yutaka Nakamura is relishing his role as Emma Raducanu’s strength and conditioning coach, describing the 22-year-old tennis star as a delightful person to work with. The 2021 US Open champion announced last week that she had added Nakamura, former fitness coach to Maria Sharapova, to her team.
Raducanu has faced several injury challenges this year, culminating in a serious foot ligament sprain during the WTA 500 tournament in Seoul in mid-October. Following a two-month recovery period, reports emerged that she was seeking a top-tier strength and conditioning coach.
Nakamura, widely regarded as one of the best in the sport, previously worked with Sharapova for six years and has also collaborated with four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka.
“Emma is a lovely person, a really good person,” Nakamura said in an interview with Sky Sports’ Gigi Salmon. Prior to formalizing their partnership, the two spent time together to assess their compatibility. Their successful trial period before the Billie Jean King Cup Finals solidified Nakamura’s position on Raducanu’s team.
Upon announcing Nakamura’s addition, Raducanu emphasized their shared work ethic and focus. “He’s going to be with me a lot next year. I am really looking forward to it. We’re quite similar in that we’re very focused when we work,” she stated at the National Tennis Centre in London.
Despite struggling with injuries over the past two seasons, Raducanu remains confident in her potential to excel on the WTA Tour. She believes Nakamura can help her unlock her athletic abilities. “I think he is going to help me explore how far I can go athletically. I have a natural athleticism that I need to hone and develop,” she said.
After a two-month hiatus, Raducanu returned to competition in mid-November at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Malaga, winning all three of her singles matches before Great Britain was eliminated by Slovakia in the semifinals.
“I feel really strong and fit. I haven’t played many matches yet, but I felt great during training. It will be interesting to see how I perform in back-to-back matches as the level increases,” Raducanu noted.
This Thursday, Raducanu will travel to Australia, where she plans to practice in Brisbane with fellow WTA player and friend Priscilla Hon before heading to New Zealand for her first tournament of the year around Christmas.
“I didn’t want to go straight to Auckland because arriving too early can make you feel stale before the match. I want to be there when it’s tournament time,” she explained. Raducanu’s 2025 season will officially kick off at the WTA 250 tournament in Auckland, starting December 30th.
Related topics
- Serena Williams Reveals Unique Trait
- Kokkinakis Honest but Sad Injury Confession
- Monfils Cautions Against Sinner-Alcaraz Comparisons
