THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 5, 2024

Emma Raducanu

Press Conference

E. RADUCANU/M. Sakkari

6-2, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Emma, fourth round. How are you feeling?

EMMA RADUCANU: Yeah, I'm very pleased of course. I think I played a really good match. That's honestly the thing I'm happiest with, just the level I put on the court today.

Yeah, I'm just looking forward to getting out there for the next round.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Second top-10 win in two weeks, also the first time reaching the fourth round of a slam since your US Open win. How are you feeling about reaching your level here at Wimbledon?

EMMA RADUCANU: Yeah, it's obviously amazing. I think you do your work day in, day out. You never know when it's going to pay off, you never know when you're going to reap the rewards.

I think after a lot of losses just on a regular tour, it's very difficult sometimes to stay in the moment, keep working, get back up, just keep doing your thing. You have to have in the back of your mind at some point it's going to pay off and you just don't know when.

I'm very happy that a lot of the work I've been doing has compounded and has been able to show this week.

Q. On commentary Joanna Konta was asking whether you might have watched some of the videos back from New York to trigger those feelings. You won't play another seed until semifinals.

EMMA RADUCANU: Honestly, that's so far ahead.

I haven't looked that far ahead. I only focus on who I'm playing next. I think that's the best way to be. I think staying present in the moment is what got me this far. I'm not going to start changing anything.

But I think, following the Carlos-Tiafoe match, it was such amazing tennis, just very fun to watch. I think the last couple matches I've been following Carlos, and yeah, it's just good to watch before the match.

I think sometimes in certain moments you in a way try to emulate certain shots or whatever.

Q. But no videos of 2021?

EMMA RADUCANU: I always watch myself back. I think especially just, like, highlights, it's just a feel-good thing.

Q. You were so good on the big points today. You still seemed to be able to play with freedom, go for the forehand down the line, aces. Have you always been like that or something that you can maybe learn?

EMMA RADUCANU: Yeah, I think naturally that's always been one of my big strengths, is the big points. I step up and I thrive and I love the challenge and trying to overcome it.

I think that's something I did since a young age, very much so. I think in the last couple years, I don't think I was playing those big points in the same way. Like, I wasn't as aggressive. I was more passive.

I think I'm playing such a top opponent like Maria, she's not going to give me the match or give me an error. I know I have to go for it. Anyone at this level of the tournament is the same.

You just have to take the opportunities while you have them.

Q. Now with Andy moving on, it feels like a lot of the pressure of the home hope is going to be on you. How do you feel about that? How do you feel about playing these big matches on Centre Court or 1? Seems like with him you kind of come alive.

EMMA RADUCANU: I love playing on the big courts. For me, I thrive on such occasions, on big stages. It's something that I play tennis for. I just love the feeling of it, competing, especially here in front of a home crowd. It is really amazing.

I think on the pressure side, you can flip it. I have a packed Centre Court who are all rooting for me to win. It really felt like that today. It really felt like that in my last two matches.

For me, I just feel happy that that many people are behind me. That's just in a microcosm of what's going on in the wider world. Not everyone who supported me is in that stadium, as well.

I think pressure's a privilege, as well. I thrive for those situations.

Q. You've spoken in the past about social media. This year Wimbledon are pioneering a new scheme through AI to target such issues. Have you found it to be helpful so far?

EMMA RADUCANU: I haven't honestly been able to tell or look at my social media too much. I couldn't tell you the answer.

But, I mean, I'm well aware of the social media abuse that happens. I think all of the players are, and they get it. At the end of the day I think it just come with the situation and the position that we're in. At the same time there are a lot of supporters out there.

Q. Last on No. 1 Court tomorrow with Andy. How much are you looking forward to that? You might make it back in time with the England football.

EMMA RADUCANU: Yeah, I know. The scheduling of that was not ideal.

I mean, it's just an amazing opportunity to be able to play with him. It's something that I'm going to cherish.

Q. Any input into the timing of that?

EMMA RADUCANU: No. I just came off court and found out myself.

Q. Your next opponent has a similar background. Her dad is from eastern Europe, her mum is from China. Their family moved continents when she was very young. She also speaks Mandarin. Do you know Lulu Sun? Do you speak Chinese to any other players to brush up?

EMMA RADUCANU: Yeah, I speak with Zhang Shuai a lot in Chinese. She's honestly been so nice to me ever since I played her in 2021. She's kind of taken me under her wing. It's unfortunate we're playing her tomorrow. I actually warmed up with her a few days ago. She's an amazing person.

Lulu I played in juniors with. I just know she's a very tough competitor, like everyone in this. You don't qualify and make fourth round if you're not extremely dangerous, beating the players she has.

I'm expecting a really, really tough match. I think, as well, qualifiers are actually sometimes more dangerous. I'm really up for a battle, though.

Q. You said earlier this was up there with some of the most fun you've had on a tennis court. Assuming winning the US Open is at number one, where does this rank on the fun scale?

EMMA RADUCANU: Number two, for sure. I mean, even the points I was losing, the long points or certain situations, even when I lost the point, I found myself smiling or laughing to myself because I was just enjoying competing, I was just enjoying the battle, I was just appreciating the good tennis that was being played by my opponent who is of course going to come out with some amazing points because, yeah, she's class.

Q. Is there anything about your game since Nottingham that has impressed you in any way?

EMMA RADUCANU: I think I've been just tracking nicely. I think everything I've been doing has just accumulated. I think match by match I've grown in confidence.

I think that I was getting to certain shots today that I didn't think I would get to usually. It's a pleasant surprise.

But I think that everything in general is just a result of all the hard work I've been doing.

Q. I'm from Scotland. You were on our patch in Crieff in the castle there for the Dior event. Could you tell us if you did anything up in Scotland, went to any of the local places, how that compares to other places you visit?

EMMA RADUCANU: I really fell in love with it up there. I was at the Gleneagles, which was stunning, the golf course. I went for a run. I train, then I flew after my training. Yeah, did a run before the show. It was just stunning to take in all the sights.

For me, my retreat is greenery. I think Scotland has just vast, amazing, beautiful greenery. It was beautiful.

I think Drummond Castle, where the show was at, is stunning. The lawns were so perfectly manicured, it was beautiful.

Q. You said you celebrate every win, you don't want to get ahead of yourself. At what point in the tournament do you think you would potentially start thinking about what you could achieve here?

EMMA RADUCANU: I don't think I ever will until I'm in the situation. Like, I just have to keep going point by point. I think today was a really good example of me just taking it moment by moment and fighting. I was able to turn some score lines in the game around, being 15-40. I think that's the best way for me to approach it.

I think also for me to be winning that match against a top-10 opponent on Centre Court, it's a beautiful feeling and one that I really want to savor.

But tennis is pretty brutal in the way you have to enjoy it tonight and then tomorrow you're already thinking about the next one. It's just like that. You can win the tournament but you can lose first round the next week. It's the sport.

I'm just trying to cherish every moment I have here.

Q. You mentioned on your on-court interview that today felt like a bit of a free hit. Does the whole tournament feel like a free hit given the year you had last year, the pressure of being off a bit?

EMMA RADUCANU: I think I'm very grateful just being healthy. I think I missed the feeling of being on the grounds very much. I think it was really painful last year coming here and not being able to compete, being on the other side of it. I think that feeling has been pulling me through a lot this week. Just remembering how I felt then, bringing it back to the present.

I've just been having so much fun that I really just want to stay. I don't want to go home. It's a good, different type of motivation.

Q. You served really well today. Under pressure, looks like that's when you found your stride. How much have you been working on that? How happy are you with that element of your game?

EMMA RADUCANU: Yeah, I've been working on it quite a bit throughout the year. I think there's still a lot of room for improvement on it. I think it's just such a big element of the game. You start the point 50% of the time with it. It's something I have been improving.

I am happy with the way that today in the pressure moments I was able to actually get some free points. That helped me out. You watch any of the top players or any of the guys play, they don't lose their serve very often.

Yeah, it just signals how important it is and how I need to keep working on it.