Raducanu is looking to build on the 2024 season, where she has made encouraging progress following wrist and ankle surgery.
But the injury problems that have plagued her – for much of the time since she stunned the world by winning the 2021 US Open as a teenage qualifier – have also continued.
At last year’s US Open, a lack of match action led to a rusty first-round exit, and he later tearfully admitted it was a “lesson learned.”
“I think the difference between this and the U.S. Open is that I didn’t train at all before the U.S. Open,” said Raducanu, who hired Yutaka Nakamura as a full-time fitness trainer in December.
“But I did a really good job.”
The former world number 10 added: “Way [Yutaka] structured our practices, and these days have helped me get to a position where I feel quite ready.”
Trying to remedy the lack of match practice, Raducanu played sets against sixth seed Elena Rybakina of Croatia and former world No. 4 Caroline Garcia of France.
“Performing with them is great… it allows you to see and measure your game and its current level,” she said.
“I played against some really top players this week and felt good on the court. I didn’t feel like I was out of shape at all.
“It definitely gives me confidence, but putting it out on the pitch is another thing.”
