His last Sky Sports In the column, Gigi Salmon talks to Emma Radukanu and her new strength and coach at the National Tennis Centre.She also discusses Radukanu’s Christmas plans and reflects on her conversation with British No.1 Katie Boulter.
“I think I can become one of the best tennis players,” Emma Radukanu’s words, which I’m sure you’ve read in a number of games. works published about him in the last few daysincluding here Sky Sports.
These quotes came from a gathering I was lucky enough to be invited to at the National Tennis Center in London last week. Several British tennis media were invited to spend some time with Emma in an informal setting, an idea that was hers, so a quick call to make sure that I can pick the kids up from school if I’m late or stuck in traffic (I ended up taking the school in five minutes) it went to Roehampton.
Yutaka Nakamura (front center) recently worked with former world No. 1 and four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka.
It quickly became clear that building a relationship with the British press was important to Emma, and something that could work both ways, as we learned more about her, so could she. She wants to know more about us and how we are we work
Emma has a lot to look forward to in the pre-season, a settled relationship with coach Nick Kawade, who she has known since she was nine-years-old, and the newest addition to the team, Radukanu, renowned strength and conditioning coach Yutaka Nakamura.
Nakamura spent 7 years on tour with Maria Sharapova during her prime, most recently working with World No. 1 and former Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, as well as working alongside Kei Nishikori and Denis Shapovalov.
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Laura Robson and Tim Henman discuss the impact of Radukanu’s new fitness coach and how it could improve his fitness
The thrill of working with Radukanu
Radukanu hopes to become one of the best tennis players
I was lucky enough to spend a few minutes with Yutaka when we got to NTC, whose excitement to work with Emma was obvious. which Emma responded to us a little later.
He looks forward to unlocking its potential, which he believes is endless, and spoke of the timing being right.
He’ll be a regular on tour with her in 2025 and, according to Emma, ”we’re on the same wavelength, he’ll help me discover how far I can go athletically, that’s my big strength I think , that I can become one of the best tennis players.
The other thing that struck me and is so important when you think you’re going to be with that person or group of people week after week is when he said, “He’s a lovely man, a really good man.”
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Radukanu looks back on his 2021 US Open win…
Another thing that stood out was when Emma was asked if there was anything in particular this year that made her realize that maybe some changes needed to be made, and it turned out to be a trip to see her grandmother in China , who he went to see later, he reached the quarterfinals of the Korea Open.
She talked about exploring her creative side, playing the piano and painting, while thinking about what she wants for herself, and the main thing is staying healthy next year and getting one on the way, which will lead to a week-long trial with Yutaka Nakamura at Wimbledon. .
December for Radukanu sees her fly to Brisbane on Thursday for warm weather training where she will link up with good friend and fellow WTA player Priscilla Hone before jetting off to New Zealand to spend Christmas with her best friend’s family and before December is in London. her favorite month will be the beach and the barbecue on Christmas Day and then the season starts in Auckland at the WTA 250 ASB Classic.
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Martina Navratilova thinks Radukanu should own her tennis career…
Boulter will never be satisfied
Katie Boulter will represent Great Britain in the United Cup
It all sounds and sounds really positive, and while Emma said she doesn’t have a specific New Year’s resolution, it’s clear that staying fit and healthy is a big goal for 2025, and it’s a shared goal with British No.1 Katie Boulter, who I chatted at NTC earlier in the week.
Cathy finished the year with a career high of two titles this year, including her first 500 in San Diego, and she said her biggest disappointment this year is that she will never be satisfied, which is what drives her.
Boulter is leaving Britain a little later and will be staying in Europe before leaving to prepare to represent Great Britain in the United Cup, but he says he went to buy a Christmas tree with his partner Alex de Minaur and give him a little treat. British Christmas Day and will have a day with the family before he leaves and the season begins.
What’s next on Sky Sports Tennis?
- United Cup with Great Britain – December 27, 2024 – January 5, 2025
- Brisbane International (ATP 250) – December 29, 2024 – January 5, 2025.
- ASB Classic, Auckland (WTA 250) – December 30, 2024 – January 5, 2025
Sky Sports+ has officially launched and will be integrated into it Sky TVstreaming service NOW! and: The Sky Sports appthis year giving Sky Sports customers access to over 50 per cent more live sport at no extra cost. Learn more here.
