Emma Raducanu has insisted that no-one will want to draw her at the Australian Open as the 2021 US Open winner explained why she has given herself a “pat on the back” for her 2024 season.
Raducanu has shown glimpses of her best tennis this year despite continuing struggles with injury, reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon in her best grand slam result since her maiden major triumph in New York.
The 22-year-old hopes to build consistency next year, starting in Melbourne in January, as she looks to continue to climb up the rankings.
The British No 2 will be unseeded at the first grand slam of 2025 but feels she will be a threat regardless of who she ends up drawn against.
“I know I’m a dangerous player,” Raducanu told BBC Sport. “I know no-one wants to pull my name in the draw.
“I take pride in that and I’m looking forward to hopefully staying on court longer next year.
“Sometimes I need reminding: I’m top 60 and I’ve played less than 15 events, which is pretty unheard of. I have to pat myself on the back for that.”
Raducanu has turned to fitness coach Yutaka Nakamura, who has previously worked with Maria Sharapova and Naomi Osaka, in a bid to improve her injury record.
A successful trial during the autumn has seen Nakamura added on a full-time basis to Raducanu’s team with the tennis player hoping to become “one of the best athletes” on the WTA Tour.
“I think he is going to help me just really explore how far I can go, like athletically,” Raducanu explained.
“I think it’s a big strength of mine that I have nowhere near fulfilled. I think I can become one of the best athletes out there in tennis and I’m just looking forward to seeing how much I can do.
“My natural athleticism is something that I have to use. I have to hone it, I have to polish it, it’s still pretty raw and I don’t think anywhere near fully developed so he’s going to help me explore that.”
