Emma Raducanu receives the heat from the spotlights again in this Wimbledon 2024. The Brit has had a hopeful grass tour, adding classy victories (especially the one she achieved against Jessica Pegula in Eastbourne) and, above all, finding a regularity and consistency on a physical level that she had been longing for for a long time. Taking little steps like an ant and forgetting the weight of that title in Flushing Meadows, Emma is aware of the pressure from the local parish, but faces the tournament with an exciting attitude: it has been a long time since she has looked so good on a physical level, just as states in Press conference.
– Good sensations without feeling any injury
“I haven’t had any injuries lately. I have a lot of confidence in my body. I’ve been able to play three matches at a high level this past week and come out unscathed physically. I think I’m in a very good position. Last year I did a lot of work at the end of the season to get back healthy and without any discomfort, and that’s a job I’ve continued this year. I feel very good physically, without a doubt. My preparation for Wimbledon is working, I’ve found a great balance between the amount of matches I play and being able to stay physically fresh. The week in Eastbourne helped me to play high-level matches, get a great win in the second round and gain a lot of confidence.
“Also, I think that not coming here too early helps me, because sometimes when you come to a tournament like this too early, you have too much time to think. It’s happened to me a few times: I get to the second round, I play my match on Thursday, but I’ve been in the tournament since Monday of the previous week. Then you feel like you’re in the second week… and you’re only in the second round. This preparation helps me to keep the positive momentum and to think less.”
– How hard it was for her to watch the last Wimbledon from the other side of the barrier
“I missed this tournament very much. I feel grateful for having the opportunity to play with an invitation, I have great memories of 2021. Being on the other side of the barrier was something that stung a lot last year. It was not positive, I barely saw tennis Being able to be here this year is super special. There is never a magic formula to overcome that part of being injured. The most important thing is to have people on your team who keep you there, who support you, because as an athlete you always want to push yourself to the limit. “When you overdo it, it’s very easy to get injured again. It’s something I’ve learned, I need very diligent people by my side, I have to stay patient and not rush when I want to come back, that’s the biggest lesson I’ve learned.”
– The admiration he professes for Andy Murray
“Going into a tournament like Wimbledon, you know you’re going to push your body to its limits, especially in terms of recovery. He’ll probably deal with whatever comes after that, but he’ll do his best, whatever it takes. I’m happy to see him here – when I think of Wimbledon, I think of Andy. That was the generation I grew up with, the hero I looked up to. Seeing him here is the right thing to do and I hope his debut is on Centre Court.”
– Comfortable playing on grass… but wants to be a versatile player
“I love grass. It was important for me to take time at Roland Garros to make that transition physically and tennis-wise to this surface, and it was a good move on my part. I also like playing on hard courts, but in the future I hope to be an all-round player who can play on all surfaces. This year was the first time I thought I had the potential to be good on clay. In terms of mobility, I felt pretty good. If I give myself more time on that surface, I can be a great player. At the moment I’m still enjoying the faster surfaces, that’s for sure.”
– British tennis is in great form, with titles for Draper and Boulter
“Both Jack and Katie have done great, they are both seeded here and have won titles on grass, it is incredible for tennis in our country. It is also fantastic for the rest of the players, who will want to join the party, we all love it.” “We push each other. In Eastbourne we had three women in the top eight, something spectacular for a 500 tournament. The competition between us is very healthy, that’s how things should be.”
– Cautious with expectations
“If I make it past the first round, I’ll be on cloud nine. Tim (referring to Henman, who said Emma will make it to the second week) has higher expectations, I guess (laughs).”
2024-06-29 18:55:54
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