2021 US
Open champion Emma Raducanu recently confirmed that she is in talks with a
renowned physical coach to join her team. Sky Sports experts Laura Robson and
Tim Henman discussed the Japanese coach in detail, who has already worked with
former World No. 1 players.
The coach
in question is Yutaka Nakamura, a Japanese fitness trainer who has worked on
both the ATP and WTA Tours, as well as in other sports like golf. “We are
having discussions. Yeah, we’ll see. I’m looking forward for 2025 regardless,”
commented Raducanu during her press conference at the Billie Jean King Cup.
Raducanu's fitness game plan: Talks underway with renowned coach Yutaka Nakamura
The fitness
trainer spent seven years working with former World No. 1 Maria Sharapova and
later collaborated with four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, former World
No. 4 Kei Nishikori, and Wimbledon semifinalist Denis Shapovalov.
London 2012
silver medallist Laura Robson shared her thoughts on the renowned coach, whom
she knows from her time as a player. “Yutaka, who I know pretty well from when
he was working with Sharapova and when I used to train in Florida, he was
primarily based at the IMG Academy there,” Robson told Sky Sports. “So he’s
worked with people like Nelly Korda, even from other sports like golf, and just
has a really long history of being world-class.”
“He’s such
a nice guy to get along with as well, which is important when you’re on the
road so many weeks of the year. If that works out, hopefully it does, because I
think that would be a really good addition to the team.”
Raducanu at Billie Jean King Cup Finals. She won her first match against Jule Niemier.
Tim Henman
also shared positive opinions about Raducanu potentially working with Nakamura.
“The element that she’s probably struggled the most with is her physical
resilience, and we talk about these long seasons and being out there and
competing on tour,” he said.
“She’s
still trying to build that resilience. She’s had some of those injuries, and
when you look at her match count, I think she only played 31 matches on the
tour,” he added. “She still finished in the top 60, so if she can compete and
play more tournaments, you just feel that there’s going to be more
opportunities for her to move in the right direction. So I think in terms of
investment, if she could bring on someone like that, it would be really good
news.”
Giving Great Britain the lead 🇬🇧
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) November 15, 2024
Emma Raducanu defeats Jule Niemeier 6-4, 6-4 and gets Great Britain off to a winning start against Germany 1-0. #BJKCup pic.twitter.com/suCNFssxoQ
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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