Gigi Salmon’s column: Health and staying wholesome is Emma Raducanu’s large aim for 2025

In her newest Sky Sports activities column, Gigi Salmon speaks to Emma Raducanu and her new power and conditioning coach on the Nationwide Tennis Centre. She additionally discusses Raducanu’s Christmas plans and displays on her chat with British No 1 Katie Boulter.

“I think I can become one of the best athletes out there in tennis,” the phrases of Emma Raducanu which I am positive you have got learn in quite a few items printed about her in the previous couple of days, together with right here on Sky Sports activities.

These quotes got here from a get-together that I used to be fortunate sufficient to be invited alongside to on the Nationwide Tennis Centre in London on the finish of final week. A handful of the British tennis media had been invited alongside to spend a while with Emma in an off-the-cuff setting an concept that was hers, so with a fast name to verify I may get the youngsters picked up from faculty if I used to be late again or caught in site visitors (I ended up making faculty decide up with 5 minutes to spare) it was off to Roehampton.

It got here throughout in a short time that constructing a relationship with the British press is necessary to Emma, and one thing that may work each methods as we study extra about her, she will be able to additionally. She desires to study extra about us and the way we work.

Emma is in pre-season with a lot to sit up for forward of the brand new marketing campaign, a settled relationship with coach Nick Cavaday who she has recognized since she was 9 and coached her from the age of Sept. 11, and the most recent addition to Crew Raducanu, famend power and conditioning coach, Yutaka Nakamura.

Nakamura spent seven years on tour with Maria Sharapova in the course of the time of her best successes, most not too long ago has labored with former world No 1 and Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka whereas additionally working alongside the likes of Kei Nishikori and Dennis Shapovalov.

Pleasure at working with Raducanu

I used to be fortunate sufficient after we arrived on the NTC to spend a couple of minutes with Yutaka, whose pleasure at working with Emma was evident. He stated they’re nonetheless attending to know one another however that the vibe they have already got is nice, one thing that Emma echoed to us a little bit later.

He’s trying ahead to exploring her potential which he thinks is countless and spoke of the timing being proper.

He will likely be a relentless fixture on the tour along with her in 2025 and within the phrases of Emma, ‘we’re on the identical wave size, he’ll assist me discover how far I can go athletically, it is a large power of mine that I’ve nowhere close to fulfilled I believe I can grow to be top-of-the-line athletes on the market in tennis’.

The opposite factor that struck me and is so necessary while you assume you’ll be with that particular person or group of individuals week in week out is when he stated, ‘she is a stunning particular person, a very good particular person’.

One thing else that stood out was when Emma was requested if there was one specific factor this 12 months that made her realise that perhaps some adjustments should be made and it seems it was a visit to see her Grandma in China who she went to see after her run to the quarter-finals of the Korea Open.

She spoke of exploring her inventive facet, taking part in the piano and portray whereas questioning what she needed for herself and key was to remain wholesome subsequent 12 months and to convey somebody in to come back on the highway and that result in per week’s trial at Wimbledon with Yutaka Nakamura.

December for Raducanu sees her fly to Brisbane on Thursday for some heat climate coaching the place she’s going to hyperlink up with good pal and fellow WTA participant Priscilla Hon, earlier than heading to New Zealand to spend Christmas along with her finest pal’s household, and whereas December in London is her favorite month, it is going to be a seaside and a BBQ for Christmas Day! After which the season will begin on the WTA 250 ASB Traditional in Auckland.

Boulter won’t ever be happy

All of it feels and sounds actually constructive and whereas Emma stated she does not have a specific New 12 months’s decision. It is clear that health and staying wholesome is an enormous aim for 2025 and it is a shared aim with British No 1 Katie Boulter, who I spoke to on the NTC at the beginning of the week.

Katie completed the 12 months at a profession excessive rating, two titles this 12 months together with her first at 500 degree in San Diego and she or he stated that the largest frustration from this 12 months is that she’s going to by no means be happy, which is a part of what drives her.

Boulter is leaving the UK a little bit later and can keep in Europe earlier than heading out to get able to symbolize Nice Britain within the United Cup, however she says she went along with her companion Alex de Minaur to purchase a Christmas tree and provides him a little bit style of a British Christmas, and there will likely be a day with household earlier than she heads off and the season will get underneath manner.

What’s arising on Sky Sports activities Tennis?

• United Cup that includes Nice Britain – December 27, 2024 – January 5, 2025
• Brisbane Worldwide (ATP 250) – December 29, 2024 – January 5, 2025
• ASB Traditional, Auckland (WTA 250) – December 30, 2024 – January 5, 2025

Sky Sports activities+ has formally launched and will likely be built-in into Sky TV, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports activities app, giving Sky Sports activities prospects entry to over 50 per cent extra dwell sport this 12 months at no further price. Discover out extra right here.