Emma Raducanu explains why she trains for US Open tennis matches by playing football

Emma Raducanu has incorporated a pre-match kickabout into US Open routine as she bids to follow up her original 'Fairytale in New York' with another triumph at Flushing Meadows this year.

Raducanu, 22, won her first Grand Slam as a huge underdog back in 2021 but has struggled in New York since, failing to win a match in recent years. She has been in fine form at this year's tournament, where she will face Elena Rybakina for a place in the fourth round on Friday. The Brit is working with a new coach in Francisco Roig, who has previously mentored Rafael Nadal.

Roig is Raducanu's ninth coach since 2021 but the early signs are promising; the Spaniard is the one who floated the idea of kicking a football around before matches, something Raducanu felt helped put her in a positive frame of mind on Wednesday prior to her 6-2 6-1 win over Janice Tjen.

“On Wednesday, honestly, I went on the court and felt so good,” she said in an interview with The Times. “I had underspin on my kick and I was flinging my foot. It felt great, so I went on to the court feeling pretty positive because the general consensus in the team was that I was kicking the ball well. It was a good omen before I went on.”

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She added: “He [Roig] brings so much. He brings a lot of good energy and he’s constantly joking around. His energy is, most of the time, higher than all of us at the end of the day. It’s great to have that around, that positivity, and I feed off it. I love having light energy in my team. It’s just nice because on the court I’m always happy, always laughing around him. I’m just pleased with how it’s going.”

Roig spent most of his career working alongside Nadal and became one of his compatriot's most trusted confidantes. Raducanu's longest serving coach, by contrast, is Nick Cavaday at 14 months. Roig's refusal to divulge the secrets of his working relationship with Nadal was a big plus for Raducanu, who is said to have been frustrated on occasions in the past with previous coaches' speaking about things publicly.

“I think he’s very good,” Raducanu said. “He keeps his work with Rafa very private, which I respect. I like that he doesn’t divulge or share too much information because then I trust that he wouldn’t do the same with me.

“I guess there are certain questions and specifics I might ask him. But as of late and recently, I haven’t done too much. Just maybe how the top players approach the grand-slams, their matches there and any nerves. But I think it’s just normal that we all go through that.”