Emma Raducanu hopes 'hero' Andy Murray will make Wimbledon, hails 'pretty spectacular' progress from British players
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Published 29/06/2024 at 21:55 GMT
Emma Raducanu is gearing up for her return to Wimbledon and a first-round clash against Ekaterina Alexandrova. She covered a series of topics in her pre-tournament press conference and lauded her inspirational peer Andy Murray, as he bids to be fit in time to compete after undergoing back surgery. Raducanu also discussed the progress made by both Jack Draper and Katie Boulter in recent months.
Alcaraz, Djokovic and Sinner look good in Wimbledon training sessions
Emma Raducanu paid a glowing tribute to Andy Murray and hopes that the two-time Wimbledon champion will be fit enough to compete at the All England Club.
Murray said he would "wait until the last minute" to decide on his participation after undergoing back surgery to remove a cyst.
The former world No. 1 has been handed a first-round match against Tomas Machac on Tuesday in the hope of being fit in time, and Raducanu was delighted to see the 37-year-old training again.
“I think for a tournament like Wimbledon, especially, you'll push your body, you'll push your recovery to the maximum,” Raducanu said in her press conference. “You'll take the consequences that will come after or during, whatever you have to do.
"I think you will just absolutely push yourself to the maximum, and push the people around you to also be at their best.
“I'm very happy to see him here because when I think of Wimbledon, I think of Andy. Growing up, that was the generation, the hero I would look up to. I think it just feels right, and I really hope that, yeah, Tuesday or whenever he's playing, that he's on the match court.”
Raducanu is enjoying a renaissance in the sport after reaching the semi-finals at Nottingham and the quarters at Eastbourne so far this summer.
The 21-year-old also praised the progress made by British men’s and women’s No. 1s Katie Boulter and Jack Draper, after their titles at Nottingham and Stuttgart respectively.
“I think that Jack and Katie have done extremely well, especially because they're both seeded here [at Wimbledon],” she added.
“They both won titles on the grass. I think it's amazing for British tennis. I think it's also amazing for the other players who want to do the same things.
“I think we all push each other really well. In Eastbourne, we had three women in the last eight, which is I think pretty spectacular at a 500-level tournament.”
Raducanu’s focus is now on a tricky-looking first-round tie against 22nd seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, and believes her preparation has been ideal leading into the grass-court Grand Slam.
“I would say this preparation has worked out really well,” she said. "I got a great balance between matches, but also staying fresh and not playing too much.
“I think the Eastbourne week was really helpful in getting some top-level matches, and also to get a really good win in the second round. That was my best win to date [v world No. 5 Jessica Pegula]. I think I should take a lot of confidence from that.
“Also, it helps not arriving too early, I would say, to the site, because sometimes when you arrive too early, you have time to think. I've done it before where I've not played before the Grand Slam. I'd make the second round, play my match Thursday, but I've been there since Monday before. I feel like in week two, but I'm in round two. It's also helpful to keep momentum and keep things going and think less.”
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