British No.1 Emma Raducanu says she is injury-free as she continues her preparation for the 2023 tennis season.
In news that will delight fans of the former US Open champion, Raducanu revealed she has spent the last two months in the gym more than on the tennis court as she looks to put a troublesome 2022 behind her.
The 20-year-old has experienced a dose of reality in the last 12 months, with inconsistent form and various injury niggles meaning she has dropped to No.76 in the world from her career high place of No.10.
However, following an exhibition defeat to World No.2 in Abu Dhabi on Friday, Raducanu admitted she is happy with where her fitness levels are at.
She said: "Physically, body, injury-wise I'm good now, I'm clear. Touch wood it stays like that. I really worked on my fitness the last two months, less on the tennis court. So, I'm just trying to get my feeling on the court."
Raducanu will kick-off her season at the ASB Classic in Auckland before heading to Melbourne for the first major of the year at the Australian Open, an event where this time last year all eyes where on her following her remarkable US Open triumph.
"I want to be able to go out there and just focus on the tennis," She added.
"I think this year I'm in a better position, but it's still going to take some time to develop fully.
"One of my biggest goals is to – it might not come this year, but to go out on the court and not think about my fitness, not think about, 'Oh, like start the timer, I've got 60 minutes to finish this match'.
"I want to be able to go out there and just focus on the tennis. I think this year I'm in a better position but it's still going to take some time to develop fully."
The Brit recently announced a new partnership with 30-year-old German coach Sebastian Sachs, a man who guided Belinda Bencic to Olympic gold last year.
Raducanu continued: "We are trialling until the end of the year and just seeing how it goes really. It's been going well. I've done a week with him so far and I think he's a really calm influence. He's on it, switched on, and yeah, I'm excited to see how it goes."
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