Breaking: just now How to banish Emma’s agony: Top strength and conditioning trainer says Raducanu is surrounded by ‘yes’ people, must copy Murray’s brutal training regime… and play more matches!

It’s odd to say this about a Grand Slam champion, but Emma Raducanu’s career seems to be just getting started. A season in which she has participated in just 13 events is in risk of coming to an end when she quit from her quarterfinal match at the Korea Open last week due to a sprained ligament in her left foot.

The 21-year-old suffered a succession of injuries in the first couple of years after her US Open title in 2021 and this year her scheduling has been extremely cautious if not downright eccentric.

What has become clear is her body is not ready for the relentless demands of the WTA Tour. So Mail Sport spoke to a top physical trainer about what Raducanu must to do to equip herself for the rigours of the tour. His answer was unequivocal.

‘She just doesn’t play enough matches,’ says Kieron Vorster, who has been strength and conditioning coach to players such as former world No 6 Tim Henman, Dan Evans and Wayne Ferreira.

‘But you can train as hard as you like — if you don’t have that match fitness, your body is not hardened and robust enough to play match after match after match.

‘You can practice until you’re blue in the face but you can’t replicate match conditions, that intensity and nerves when you’re 4-4 in the third serving at 0-30.’