Emma Raducanu is working with a chiropractor who has formerly treated Formula One driver David Coulthard and legendary jockey A P McCoy.
Frenchman Jerome Poupel, who was in the stands as Raducanu won her first match at the US Open since the 2021 final, also works with the racehorses themselves – and apparently has seen something of the equine about his new client.
‘My (Chinese zodiac) star sign is the horse,’ said Raducanu after beating Japanese qualifier Ena Shibahara 6-1, 6-2 in 62 minutes. ‘
And he said my character is similar to a horse! Can be quite stubborn, dig their heels in.
Wear their emotion on their sleeve, if they’re not feeling like they want to do something they probably won’t do it!
‘He’s got experience so hopefully he can read me. I’m just happy to have him around. He’s got so much different, diverse experience that it’s great to have that insight.’
Emma Raducanu is working with a world-renowned chiropractor
The individual was in the stands as Raducanu won her first match at the US Open since the 2021 final
Raducanu is a long-time petrolhead and so is fascinated by that branch of Poupel’s experience, too.
‘Racing drivers have to react at such high speed, with so much force going through their bodies,’ she said.
‘I’ve always kind of been curious about that, and I’ve asked him about that and reaction time.
‘I want to improve my reaction times and what better person to help than someone who’s worked with F1 drivers.’
Poupel has only been a recent apparition in Raducanu’s player box but she revealed they have been working together for much longer, as she attempts to fix intermittent back issues.
‘He’s been helping me for the last year,’ she said. ‘I’ve had back problems so he’s just really helped with that. As I’ve been playing more tennis and training more, it’s just important for me to stay on top of that.
‘I’m enjoying having him around. He’s a great character. Calm but eccentric, smooth talking, just a lot of fun to be around.’
After fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura joined the team in the off-season and former Rafael Nadal coach Francis Roig came in this month, Raducanu is assembling quite the array of blue-chip talent.