Emma Raducanu made a statement ahead of the 2025 season by hiring Naomi Osaka's ex-fitness coach, and her inspiration for making that move was unexpected.
Raducanu's talent is undeniable. Her 2021 US Open triumph as an 18-year-old qualifier will always be remembered as one of tennis's most unexpected and extraordinary moments.
After that success, the Briton needed time to adjust to competing on the WTA Tour throughout the year. Therefore, challenging moments were inevitable and should not have surprised anyone.
However, Raducanu has not kicked on as quickly as she might have liked since her US Open success. She could not reach another final at the WTA 250 level or above in the last three years.
Repeated physical issues have made it tough for Raducanu to find any consistency. The most severe example was severe wrist and ankle injuries that led to her missing the final nine months of 2023.
Raducanu also had injury issues in 2022 and missed almost the entire Asian swing on this year's WTA Tour after spraining ligaments in her foot at the Korea Open. The 22-year-old sustaining so many physical problems at such a young age is quite concerning.
Andy Murray suggested all the way back in 2022 that Raducanu should hire a strength and conditioning coach to avoid repeated injuries. She chose not to take that advice, which appears to have been a mistake based on her injury track record.
In Raducanu's defense, all young players make mistakes, and she deserves credit for changing her mind and not being stubborn. The Briton recently hired Yutaka Nakamura, Naomi Osaka, and Maria Sharapova's former fitness coach.
The addition of one of the most respected fitness trainers in the sport shows how hard Raducanu wants to work. She has set herself the goal of becoming one of the best tennis athletes under Nakamura's guidance.
Sky Sports Tennis presenter Gigi Salmon wrote an article after spending some time with Raducanu in an informal setting at the National Tennis Centre in London at the end of last week.
Salmon's article included a description of Raducanu's comments at the event about hiring Nakaumara. The former US Open champion revealed that spending time with her grandma in China played a pivotal role in her decision to work with the well-known fitness coach.
"Something else that stood out was when Emma was asked if there was one particular thing this year that made her realise that maybe some changes need to be made and it turns out it was a trip to see her Grandma in China who she went to see after her run to the quarter-finals of the Korea Open."
"She spoke of exploring her creative side, playing the piano and painting while wondering what she wanted for herself and key was to stay healthy next year and to bring someone in to come on the road and that lead to a week's trial at Wimbledon with Yutaka Nakamura."
It remains to be seen how much Raducanu benefits from appointing Nakamura, but it certainly seems like a wise move that will help her develop further.
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