“Focused” is what Emma Raducanu had tweeted on December 4. The Briton is just fresh off her exciting wins at the Billie Jean King Cup in Spain. Although Great Britain didn’t advance past the semifinals after losing to Slovakia, Raducanu shone by winning all her singles matches. This performance is a bright spot after a challenging year plagued by wrist and foot injuries. Now back in action, she’s eager to prove herself again.

Following Great Britain’s defeat at the BJK Cup, she had stated, “I’ve had four or five weeks off tennis, and I don’t really need any more time off.” True to word, she’s currently training in London and is determined to tackle the 2025 season head-on. Raducanu expressed her readiness while speaking to reporters at the training base at the National Tennis Centre on November 7.

Despite not winning a title since her 2021 US Open victory, she feels ready. “I feel really strong,” she stated. “I feel really fit. The only thing I can’t really speak for is I haven’t played that many matches. So it’s different. On the training court, I feel amazing. I feel like I’m running around, throwing myself around on the court, but it’s different playing matches.

After recovering from wrist and ankle surgeries, Raducanu played only 14 tournaments this year. Although she reached the quarterfinals or semifinals at events like the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix and Korea Open, she faced early exits at major tournaments, including the Australian Open and US Open. Yet, she remains optimistic about her BJK Cup performance, where she defeated Jule Niemeier in the semifinals with a score of 6-4, 6-4.

“I played a few at Fed Cup [Billie Jean King Cup], and I felt good. I felt like I recovered well,” she noted further as reported by The i Paper. “I wasn’t tiring in the matches. It would just be good to see as the level increases, and if I have to play more back-to-back, how I’m going to react.”

Looking ahead to the Australian Open in January, Raducanu is eager to see how she handles back-to-back matches as the competition intensifies. She’s also working with the new fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura, boosting her confidence as she prepares for fierce rivals like Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek. With determination and a fresh mindset.

Raducanu makes bold claims for facing challenges ahead with a new fitness trainer

Emma Raducanu is looking ahead with optimism as she prepares for the 2025 season alongside her new team member. According to The Guardian on Friday, she said, “I think he[Nakamura] is going to help me just really explore how far I can go athletically,” referring to her new strength and conditioning coach, Yutaka Nakamura. Raducanu is determined to fulfill her potential, stating, “It’s a big strength of mine that I have nowhere near fulfilled. I think I can become one of the best athletes out there in tennis.” Her confidence is palpable as she embraces this new chapter.

After a challenging year filled with injuries, Raducanu played only 34 matches, with her last appearance at the Korea Open cut short due to a foot injury. Despite these setbacks, she remains hopeful about overcoming her struggles with Nakamura’s support. He has an impressive resume that includes working with tennis greats like Maria Sharapova and Naomi Osaka. Discussions about their partnership gained traction after Telegraph Sport reported on it.

During her Wimbledon campaign, she said, “Well, I think just having your inner passion. Win or lose, every day I’m just trying to win the day.” This makes one wonder. Now that she’s training with coach Nick Cavaday and Nakamura, will she live up to the expectations and regain her form? Only time will tell!