THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 16, 2023

Henry Searle

Press Conference

H. SEARLE/Y. Demin

6-4, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the press conference of Henry Searle.

Henry, how does it feel to be Wimbledon champion?

HENRY SEARLE: Yeah, it's a pretty amazing feeling. I'll definitely try to enjoy the moment over the next few days and few weeks, then I think get back to it and try to win some more titles.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You hit a serve 130 miles per hour at 17 years old. How amazing is that? How important were your serves this tournament?

HENRY SEARLE: Yeah, it's a crucial, crucial part in my game, being quite a big build, a tall build. It definitely won me a lot of my matches this week. Been working really hard the past couple of years with my coaching team. It's starting to pay off a little bit.

Q. When you walked out onto Court 1, what was it like for you, throughout the whole match?

HENRY SEARLE: There were obviously a few nerves flying about before the match, which is to be expected playing on such a prestigious court at such a prestigious tournament.

Yeah, I let it sink in in the warm-up a little bit, then tried to focus on the match and myself after that.

Q. Could you tell us a bit about your family background, your parents, what they do. Are either of them sporty? How did you find tennis?

HENRY SEARLE: Yeah, my mum used to be into some swimming, so maybe that's where the shoulder speed comes from with the serve (smiling). Yeah, she used to be a swimmer.

I was a little bit of a nightmare at home when I was younger, so that's how I got into sports in general, and tennis.

Q. What is next for you? Will you stay in the juniors or is it time to go to the men's game?

HENRY SEARLE: Yeah, I think there's the jump to the men's game that needs to be done a little bit quicker. Hopefully that can happen now. Yeah, I'll try to continue to work hard to try and be playing at that sort of level in the men's, as well, in the future.

Q. Will you be back at the academy or don't you know yet?

HENRY SEARLE: Yeah, I'll be there next year and essentially another year after. We'll see how it goes. I'll just continue to work hard and see where that takes me.

Q. On your serve, has that always been a big advantage for you, a big part of your game, or is it something since you've grown? Have you ever served 134 miles per hour before that you know of?

HENRY SEARLE: No, not that I know of. I haven't played on too many courts with a speed gun like that.

I had quite a big growth spurt in lockdown. It wasn't really too much of a weapon before that. Took a while to get used to the longer limbs and the uncoordination. But it seems to be okay now.

Q. Who were some of your tennis idols growing up?

HENRY SEARLE: From a young age I liked to watch Rafa and idolized him as sort of, yeah, the way that I wanted to go about my tennis.

I think he's a role model for anyone who's looking to, like, pick up tennis, tennis or something. But, yeah, I idolized him.

Q. Have you played with or hit at all with Jack Draper growing up?

HENRY SEARLE: Yeah, I've seen him around the National Tennis Centre a little bit. I've spoken to him a few times but not managed to get on court with him yet.

Q. You obviously had your Barmy Army here supporting you. Could you tell us what it felt like to have them be so energetic in the crowd? You've spoken about the future. When you do come back to Wimbledon, are you hoping to see the hill renamed Henry's Hill?

HENRY SEARLE: Yeah, I think the Barmy Army have been exceptional from the start of the week till the end of the week. Hopefully they can continue to be like that over the years.

Yeah, it's not really in my control about the hill being renamed. It would be pretty cool, but I don't think I'm good enough just yet.

Q. At 3-4, you were three break points down, once you held in that game, then you broke him, were you feeling very confident at that point that the match was yours?

HENRY SEARLE: Yeah, I think from the break point down, the momentum switched kind of. Managed to get the crowd behind me. My coaching team were really pushing me on to use the momentum and try and get the break. I managed to do that.

Q. How much has it meant over the last couple of days the support you got from Wolves? You had the message from Lopetegui. How much has that meant? Are you a big Wolves fan and are you hoping to take the trophy to Molineux maybe?

HENRY SEARLE: I hope so. I think that would be pretty cool. I try and get to as many games as possible really when I'm home. Obviously it's pretty difficult when traveling and playing tennis.

No, I love going there, being with all my mates there. It's pretty special.

Q. Are you planning on playing the US Open juniors this year?

HENRY SEARLE: I'm not too sure yet. There's a few tournaments before that. I'll just focus on the next tournament rather than thinking too far ahead.

Q. I read you're doing A levels at the moment. Have you got another year of that? Are you planning to continue?

HENRY SEARLE: Yeah, the plan is to still do them. How easy that will be I don't know with all the traveling. I struggled enough as it is this year with traveling. At the end of long days it's not ideal to try and sit down in front of a book.

But I'll see what happens. If the tennis is going well enough, might not have to do them (smiling).

Q. Your mum and brother were here today. Your brother was emotional when you won. How are they feeling?

HENRY SEARLE: Yeah, it's a pretty special moment to see how happy and supportive they've been. Obviously helping me so much throughout the year. It was a special moment, for sure. Hopefully there's more to come.

Q. What were your expectations coming into the tournament? Were you here targeting the title or was this a big surprise?

HENRY SEARLE: I definitely came into the tournament with a little bit of confidence from the French Open and tournaments leading up into this. I didn't really come into the tournament with too much of an outcome goal sort of thing. I tried just to beat whoever my opponent was each match and see where that took me. It ended up being pretty special.

Q. What's the plan for this evening?

HENRY SEARLE: I'm not too sure yet. I'm sure I'll be with the Barmy Army somewhere, either getting some food or just relaxing, potentially going home.

Q. Have you had any messages from anyone within British tennis?

HENRY SEARLE: I haven't looked at my phone yet really. Jack Draper sent a really nice message wishing me the best of luck yesterday, which is really nice.

Q. Inspiring thing to receive?

HENRY SEARLE: Yeah, it's pretty cool seeing everyone is so supportive, wishing me the best of luck for today. Yeah, it was really cool.