Emma Raducanu makes major change behind the scenes in bid to banish injury demons in 2025
Emma Raducanu has appointed Maria Sharapova’s former fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura as her first full-time fitness coach, setting her sights on becoming “one of the best athletes” in tennis. The British No 2, who has struggled with injuries since her remarkable 2021 US Open victory, is looking to build her on-court resilience with this significant addition to her team.
Nakamura, who also worked with Naomi Osaka, will join Raducanu’s coaching setup as she prepares for the new season. Raducanu expressed enthusiasm about working with her new fitness coach, stating: “Yutaka’s going to be with me a lot next year, pretty much most weeks.” The former US Open champion highlighted their compatible working styles, noting: “I think we’re quite similar in the sense that we’re very focused with our work.”
She believes Nakamura will help her reach her full athletic potential in a warning to her rivals on tour. “I think I can become one of the best athletes out there in tennis and I’m just looking forward to seeing how much I can do,” she said.
The partnership will see Nakamura working closely with Raducanu’s coach Nick Cavaday in what she describes as “a lot more integrated” approach. Raducanu will begin her preparations by flying to Australia with coach Nick Cavaday on December 12.
