Emma Raducanu new team member worked with Russell Brand and made £150k payment to F3 tea

Four years after she made history as the first qualifier to lift a Grand Slam trophy, Emma Raducanu finally sealed another match win at the US Open, demolishing Japanese qualifier Ena Shibahara in 62 minutes. Since her unforgettable title run in 2021, Raducanu has struggled with injuries and physical setbacks, but those days seem to be behind her.

The British No. 1 arrived in Flushing Meadows full of form after an impressive summer, which saw her push Aryna Sabalenka in two tight matches at Wimbledon and the Cincinnati Open. And it seems the answer to her problems was a horse chiropractor.

After dealing with niggling back issues earlier this year, Raducanu's condition seems to have stabilised. She had a new face in her box during her 6-1 6-2 victory on Sunday, Dr Jerome Poupel.

The Frenchman has been working with Raducanu for a few months but has never appeared in her box until now. His CV is colourful, working with F1 drivers, rugby players, and even race horses.

Poupel's Neuroprocare website has videos showing him completing shoulder and pelvic adjustments for mammals. Meanwhile, Tony McCoy, David Coulthard, and some of the All Blacks are among his past clients.

The doctor of chiropractic has also been seen as something of a celebrity healer. While Raducanu was busy starting her US Open qualifying campaign in August 2021, Poupel was working with Russell Brand.

He posed for a selfie with Brand, shared on the Neuroprocare Instagram account with the caption: "Great to see my friend & patient @russellbrand at the clinic. He is such a gem ... what you see is what you get ! Authenticity & true charisma it is."

Poupel also previously appeared on Brand's podcast to speak about chiropractic care and healing. A video of the podcast was posted on YouTube in August 2023.

The chiropractor, who has worked with F1, F2 and F3 drivers, once made a six-figure payment to a racing team. Poupel paid £150,000 to Formula 3 outfit Hitech GP, a sum that later came under the microscope in the High Court in 2021.

The bank transfer carried the reference "ENAAM AHME", pointing to team driver Enaam Ahmed.

Ahmed's camp claimed the money should be set against his personal expenses, not the team's running bill.

The judge disagreed, ruling there was no such instruction and allowing Hitech to apply the cash to EMSL's seat-fee debt.

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