Raducanu: New physical trainer Yutaka Nakamura a perfect fit for travel team
Raducanu: New physical trainer Yutaka Nakamura a perfect fit for travel team
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Emma Raducanu has found hard-working physical trainer Yutaka Nakamura the perfect fit for her travelling team but admits she is a “black cat” who still loves her own space. The former US Open champion has deliberately kept a small entourage around her but late last year added Nakamura to a central unit that also includes coach Nick Cavaday.
Nakamura is highly regarded within tennis and previously worked with Maria Sharapova and Naomi Osaka, who described him this week as a “really kind person” with a love of selfies and sushi. He and Raducanu have already spent many hours together, with the 22-year-old keen to avoid the injury lay-offs that have affected her career so far and achieve her athletic potential.
“Big time it is important that everyone meshes well together,” Raducanu, who begins her Australian Open campaign on Tuesday against 26th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, told the PA news agency. “You spend so much time with the people you work with that of course it’s important to have a good rapport and get on.
“I think where me and Yutaka are very similar is we’re very dedicated and, even with our long days, we always stay motivated, we motivate each other and feed off of the energy, which is great to have because not many people are so committed that from 8am in the morning to 8pm at night, over and over, you’re still showing up with the same attitude and mentality.
