Emma Raducanu excited to begin work with new coach as Australian Open looms ahead

After weeks of speculation before finally settling on Torben Beltz as a new coach, Emma Raducanu has shed more light on her partnership with the German.

The reigning US Open champion will make her debut in Melbourne at next year's Australian Open, which kicks off on January 17, 2022. Following her exhibition match at the Champions Tennis event in London last weekend, the 19-year old described what it was like to work with Beltz.

“I’ve done the trials with Beltz and we’ve been in communication a lot,” said Raducanu in a press conference for the event.

“But, I’ve just been doing a lot of fitness. Like, four or five hours a day of training. I start my tennis next week so he’ll be coming in and we’ll be working hard throughout the off-season into Australia.”

The British No.1 parted ways with former coach Andrew Richardson after her US Open triumph, and played a few tournaments without a coach before settling on Beltz. The German coach previously worked with former World No.1 Angelique Kerber, during which she won two Grand Slam titles in 2016, the Australian Open and US Open.

"He’s a super positive guy and he brings great energy,” added Raducanu. “So, he’s someone who, whenever you’re around him, you can’t help it because it’s just infectious.

“I feel like that’s really cool to have in my team. He can constantly lifting the mood and I’m excited to work with him. I’ll get a better chance this off-season to get to know him better and see where it goes.”