AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 10, 2025

Emma Raducanu

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Emma, welcome to Melbourne. Talk about how you've been feeling the last few weeks.

EMMA RADUCANU: Yeah, I've been feeling good. I think the last 10 days I've had a positive block of training. Coming back on the court, adapting to the conditions here has been good for me. Yeah, two weeks ago I'd say I had to pull out of Auckland because I just wasn't ready. I had a bit of a niggle that happened pretty randomly. I couldn't prevent it.

Yeah, now I feel good and I feel ready to give it my best here.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Can you talk a little bit more about the back issue, and also, how frustrating was it to have to go into a new season sort of feeling a little bit maybe behind where you wanted to be?

EMMA RADUCANU: Yeah, I mean, I had a really good block of training in London before Billie Jean King Cup and after the tie, pretty much going straight back into it. I just, yeah, one morning was warming up, bent over to tie my laces, and I had a spasm. That was really it. It took a while to clear.

I've had them before. They've usually settled within a few days. But this one niggled for a couple weeks. I had to, yeah, miss quite a bit of training before I left. Wasn't able to play Auckland.

Now I'm feeling good and I feel like I can, yeah, give it my best here, yeah, do the good training and continue with that.

Q. Is there a concern you're a little bit ring-rusty coming in, because you hadn't played a match for so long? How have you tried to get over that in the buildup?

EMMA RADUCANU: Yeah, I think the difference between this and US Open is before US Open I hadn't actually trained like at all really. But I've been putting in really good work. This week I've been playing sets with, yeah, top players. I'm feeling like I'm holding my own more than okay in those instances and practices.

I feel pretty good with my game. Yeah, I'm looking forward to putting it on the match court.

Q. There's been a lot of talk, it's part of the job, anti-doping, getting tested. Can you talk a bit about the sort of stress or maybe the concern, if you have them, about making sure you know exactly what you're eating all the time?

EMMA RADUCANU: I would say all of us are probably quite sensitive to what we take onboard, what we use. I mean, yesterday, for example, I got really badly bitten by I don't know what, like ants, mosquitoes, something. I'm allergic, I guess.

They flared up and swelled up really a lot (smiling). Someone was, like, giving me this antiseptic spray, natural, to try to ease the bites. I didn't want to take it. I didn't want to spray it.

I was just like left there with my swollen ankle and hand. I was, like, I'm just going to tough it out because I don't want to risk it (laughter).

It's obviously a concern on our mind. We're all in the same boat. I think it's just how we manage as best as we can the controllables. If something out of our control happens, then it's going to be a bit of a struggle to try and prove.

Q. Regarding Yutaka, is there anything you've picked up on or appreciated that you've been working on together?

EMMA RADUCANU: I think having him in my camp has been a really good addition. I think he's helped me a lot just in terms of microdosing bits the fitness here and there throughout the day, tapering, managing my loads. I'm someone who is always going to want to push more, train more, do more. Sometimes actually having him to adapt the exercises or pull me back has been helpful.

I think he's also a really committed person, someone who is quite reliable, as well. Every day I know that there's not really going to be any major surprises coming my way. He's just been obviously with a lot of experienced and top players. So having that and his belief and confidence in me, yeah, has helped a lot.

Q. I wanted to ask about the work with Yutaka, as well, what you expect. Obviously it's a long-term project with him in terms of building your body physically. I wonder what you thought the timeline was in terms of getting to where you wanted to be in those terms, and whether you already feel different from the work you've already done with him?

EMMA RADUCANU: Yeah, I think building a body, that's a continuous process. I think it's not something that you necessarily put a timeline on. Like, Okay, in a year I'm going to be a top athlete. Even when you're a top athlete, there's always things you can do better.

But I think I do already feel a difference when I step on the court. I feel like I'm quite reactive and explosive. I think that stems from my warm-ups being not necessarily warm-ups, but they're more like a bit of a session. I feel just ready to go when I'm on the court.

Yeah, I think as for how long it's going to take, I'm not sure. Yeah, I trust his work and trust his judgment.

Q. You've competed at this tournament the last two, three years. What is probably your favorite moment being here?

EMMA RADUCANU: I love playing in Australia. Actually I love playing Down Under. I think it's nice. In London it's snowing, it's really cold. We get to kind of escape the winter a little bit, get some winter sun. That actually makes a big difference to how I feel, I'd say.

When you wake up in the morning, in the evenings, it's still light outside. It does put a twist, enhances my mood, I'd say. As for playing in Australia, I think the people here are very funny. There's good humor. Good banter. It's somewhere where you can kind of dish it out as well and not be afraid.

I think the whole thing, I feel very comfortable.

Q. What did you make of your draw? Do you remember any of the prep you did for the same opponent at Wimbledon before she didn't play?

EMMA RADUCANU: Yeah, I mean, it's a tricky draw, of course. Being unseeded, you can play any top opponent. She's a player with a lot of experience. I guess I'm coming in with the underdog mentality, I guess. She's been in this situation many more times than I have.

I back myself to the hills. I feel like I'm in a good place with how I'm approaching my tennis, how I'm feeling on the court. Actually we were going to go through the match the morning of, and then it got canceled at Wimbledon. I haven't gone through that yet, but I will obviously in the next few days.

Q. You obviously didn't play in as many tournaments last year as most people, which therefore affects your ranking. Where do you think your ranking would be had you played the same number of tournaments? Where do you feel your tennis level sits?

EMMA RADUCANU: Well, I feel like would have, should have, could have is just something that doesn't really exist in sport in general.

I know that whenever I play, like, any top opponent, I feel like with the way that I'm feeling on the practice court right now, I was practicing with top-10 players, feeling pretty good out there, I think I can be a dangerous opponent for anyone really.

So yeah, I think you have to kind of have that belief as a player. It's not really worth it going on court if you don't believe you can win.

Q. On the fitness side, how that ties in with the nutrition, are there particular things you always like to eat before, fueling during?

EMMA RADUCANU: Well, I love salmon (laughter). I love having salmon before and after. I have salmon twice a day, which is great. Omega-3, good fats. I think before matches I keep it pretty simple with plain rice and some protein.

I think the one thing that I've been working on, and Yutaka helping, has been intake. Obviously when we're training, it's good to just have that constant reminder that you need to kind of take fuel onboard, because otherwise you can go through your whole day or your whole practice and you don't have what you need to sustain, not just that day but the whole week of training and recovery.

Yeah, it's just been good to have him helping in all areas.

Q. What about during?

EMMA RADUCANU: Yeah, yeah, during I usually stick to something like really fast, like gels, yeah, dried fruit or something.