Naomi Osaka did not give too much away when she reacted to her former fitness coach joining Emma Raducanu’s team.
Following a difficult 2024 season after returning to action following maternity leave, the four-time Grand Slam winner is refreshed and ready for 2025.
The 27-year-old is at Melbourne Park ready to compete for a third Australian Open title, despite some fitness worries after retiring while leading the ASB Classic final.
Ahead of what will be a very challenging campaign Down Under, Naomi Osaka spoke with the media about a former member of her team now being in another camp.
What did Naomi Osaka say about her former fitness trainer now working for Emma Raducanu?
In November 2024 The Telegraph reported Emma Raducanu was considering hiring Yutaka Nakamura as her fitness coach, and that move was confirmed in December. He previously worked with Osaka and Maria Sharapova, both multiple-time Grand Slam champions.
Osaka was asked about her former fitness trainer in her pre-Australian Open press conference, and she shared what he is like behind the scenes and what Raducanu can expect to experience.
“What I remember about Yutaka, he’s great at his job,” she said. “He’s super funny. He loves to take selfies. He loves sushi. She’s going to be at every sushi restaurant in town (smiling).
“Yeah, he’s just an overall really kind person. That’s something that I remember about him a lot. He’s just very kind, very empathetic. He’s just lovely. You’re welcome for this very detailed answer.”
When Raducanu was asked about having Nakamura on the her team, she responded: ” I think having him in my camp has been a really good addition.
“I think he’s helped me a lot just in terms of microdosing bits the fitness here and there throughout the day, tapering, managing my loads. I’m someone who is always going to want to push more, train more, do more. Sometimes actually having him to adapt the exercises or pull me back has been helpful.
“I think he’s also a really committed person, someone who is quite reliable, as well. Every day I know that there’s not really going to be any major surprises coming my way. He’s just been obviously with a lot of experienced and top players. So having that and his belief and confidence in me, yeah, has helped a lot.”
Naomi Osaka provides a fires update ahead of the Australian Open
Osaka was just one set away from claiming the eighth singles title of her career at the ASB Classic.
She was producing some impressive tennis against Clara Tauson and opened up a 5-1 lead in set one before closing out the set 6-3.
Then, to the surprise of many, Osaka took an immediate timeout, before deciding she could no longer continue and Tauson was declared the champion.
She has since issued a fitness update, and it is a positive one as Osaka prepares to face Caroline Garcia in the first round of the Australian Open for a second successive year.
“Well, I’m normally a really honest person, but I probably won’t answer your question honestly (smiling). But, I mean, the MRI, it wasn’t fantastic but it wasn’t bad at the same time.
“So saying all that, I’m pretty optimistic about playing my match. I mean, for sure I’m going to play my match. Yeah, I’ve been practicing pretty well for the two days that I’ve been here, so… Seems to be going good.”
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