Emma Raducanu rose to fame in 2021 with the help of a fairytale ride at the US Open. However, after that, she has struggled a lot with injuries and lack of form. It has been a journey full of ups and downs for this 22-year-old Brit. She was dropped to 285 in the ranking in 2023, and from there, she has now risen up to 60! Speaking about this during an interview with BBC, she said, “Sometimes I need reminding: I’m top 60 and I’ve played less than 15 events, which is pretty unheard of.” She’s proud of her incredible comeback, but she’s quite reluctant to put her feet off the pedal! Raducanu has now brought in Naomi Osaka’s ex-trainer to help her more with her fitness. Who’s this guy, though?
Well, his name is Yukata Nakamura! He’s a renowned strength and conditioning coach with the experience of working with tennis superstars like Naomi Osaka and Maria Sharapova. Nakamura joined Naomi Osaka’s team in mid-2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and played a key role in her emphatic triumphs at the 2020 US Open and the 2021 AO. Both Osaka and Raducanu are now desperate to bring back their golden days and recently, Naomi Osaka was spotted sharing her thoughts sharing some interesting stories about her ex-trainer. What did she say, though?
Well, in the pre-tournament press conference at the 2025 AO, Naomi Osaka was asked to share some of her memories of working with Emma Raducanu’s current trainer. In reply to that question, Osaka shared positive feedback about Nakamura. Although she looked a bit reluctant initially to give too much away about her ex-trainer, she did mention, “What I remember about Yutaka, he’s great at his job. He’s super funny. He loves to take selfies. He loves sushi. She’s going to be at every sushi restaurant in town.“
Naomi Osaka further added, “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 (laughter).” Talking about sushi, well do you know that in 2022 Emma Raducanu visited a restaurant in Florida to learn how to make different sushi dishes? She even made three dishes named- Demon Slayer, Salmon Confit, and Emma Roll.
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Later on, Chef Bee even heaped praise on her for her valiant efforts by saying, “I’m proud of you.” In reply to that, Raducanu asked her, “Have I got a career?” Hilariously, in reply to this, the chef said, “I can’t afford.” Not only that, she had even revealed that she finds watching chefs make sushi “therapeutic.“ In a previous conversation, the Brit revealed, “I would happily sit at the sushi bar and just watch the chefs make sushi. I feel like it’s quite therapeutic when I’m doing that.” So, perhaps Emma Raducanu has found the right match with Yukata Nakamura! What did Raducanu and Nakamura say about their new partnership, though?
With the help of Naomi Osaka’s ex-trainer Emma Raducanu aims to become “the best athlete” in the tennis world
With an injury-stricken career to date, the Bromley-raised tennis superstar is now hoping to shake them off for good and tap into her full potential as an athlete. Speaking about the inclusion of Nakamura in her team, Emma Raducanu said, “I need a more tailored approach and someone dedicated to me. My athleticism is a big strength I have nowhere near fulfilled, I think I can become one of the best athletes in tennis.“
While speaking on Naomi Osaka‘s ex-trainer, she further added, “Yutaka adds another dimension to the way Nick [Cavaday] and I work, it has become integrated and connected… we can already see things that we do in the gym transferring onto the tennis court. We’re on a journey of exploration.” Emma Raducanu has played only 36 matches last season, so she will be keen to stay longer on the courts this year. However, amid all these, Raducanu has been handed a pretty tough draw at the 2025 AO. Fans have already started to make predictions for her early exit. Can Yukata Nakamura change the fortunes of this British tennis star?
Well, Nakamura brings a wealth of expertise in strength and conditioning as his portfolio is studded with a reputation for helping numerous top athletes reach their full potential. Over the years, with his vast experience, he has developed innovative training techniques that prioritize both physical resilience and peak fitness levels. Nakamura is widely known for his commitment to high-performance sports science. Time will tell whether he can bring success to Raducanu’s camp or not, but what does he think about this partnership?
According to a report published by SkySports, Nakamura said that he’s looking forward to exploring Emma Raducanu’s potential which he thinks is quite endless. Speaking about his bond with Raducanu he also said, “She (Emma Raducanu) is a lovely person, a really good person.” Nakamura feels this is the right time and as per reports, he’ll be a constant fixture on the tour with her in 2025. What are your thoughts on this partnership, though?
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