Emma Raducanu delivered an optimistic update ahead of the Australian Open, declaring that she is “feeling good” as she banished fitness doubts at a pre-tournament press conference. The 22-year-old Brit, ranked 60th in the world, has been handed a challenging but not unwinnable first-round clash against 26th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova. Having been sidelined from the Auckland Open due to a back spasm, the British tennis star’s return to form is a timely boost as she looks to kick off her 2025 season in Melbourne.

Raducanu, who has been training in Melbourne for over a week, spoke confidently about her recovery and preparation. “I’ve been feeling good. I think the last 10 days, I’ve had a positive block of training,” she said. “Coming back on the court, adapting to the conditions here, has been good for me. Two weeks ago 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. [Now] I feel good, and I feel ready to give it my best here.”

Raducanu revealed the injury—a back spasm—occurred during a routine warm-up in London while preparing for the Billie Jean King Cup in November. “One morning [I] was warming up, bent over to tie my laces, and I had a spasm. That was really it. It took a while to clear,” she explained. Despite this setback, Raducanu emphasized that her preparation for the Australian Open has been vastly different from her US Open buildup last year. “This week, I’ve been playing sets with 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.”

Developments in 2025

Raducanu’s approach to the Australian Open mirrors her preparation for the US Open last season, where a lack of matchplay proved costly, resulting in a first-round loss to Sofia Kenin. However, the 22-year-old is confident that her current level of preparation—aided by a strong training block and the guidance of her new fitness coach, Yutaka Nakamura—sets her up for a more successful campaign. Nakamura, who joined the British team during the off-season, has made an immediate impact.

“I think having him in my camp has been a really good addition,” Raducanu said. “I think he’s helped me a lot just in terms of microdosing bits of fitness here and there throughout the day, tapering, and 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.”

Raducanu’s optimism is also fueled by her performance at the Billie Jean King Cup, where she won all three matches despite a limited schedule in 2024. The confidence gained from those victories, combined with positive training sessions this week, has Raducanu feeling ready to compete with the best in Melbourne. “I’ve been putting in really good work,” she said. “I think the difference between this and the US Open is before the US Open, I hadn’t actually trained at all really.”

Raducanu’s fitness will undoubtedly be tested in her opener against Alexandrova, but the Briton’s determination and recent progress suggest she is more than capable of rising to the occasion.