THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 3, 2024

Emma Raducanu

Press Conference

E. RADUCANU/E. Mertens

6-1, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Emma, great performance out there. You must be very happy with your level today.

EMMA RADUCANU: Yeah, I'm super pleased with that performance. I just had so much fun on the court, to be honest. I absolutely love playing on Court 1. I felt the atmosphere was amazing with the crowd. Yeah, I really fed off of it and played some really good stuff.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You spoke a lot about the home support and the fact there was a lot of noise being generated with the roof on. Do you prefer having the roof on or the roof off?

EMMA RADUCANU: I prefer having the roof on probably because I think the sound is just amplified. Yeah, it's like a concert hall. It's really nice to play in, an amazing environment. It's a lot louder. The ball even sounds different when you hit it.

At the end of the day it's an outdoor event. But, yeah, my preference is probably when it's like that.

Q. You mentioned how much you enjoy No. 1 Court. The last time you were there was Tomljanovic. Don't know whether you've hit on there since then. For some people that might be a bit of a scarring experience, a match you retired from.

EMMA RADUCANU: I didn't even think of that. Now I'm reminded (smiling).

When I think of Court 1, I just think of that amazing win against Sorana. That was my first kind of coming out into tennis society, if you would like to call it.

I just have such amazing memories from that court. I think that match in particular, it was the first time playing on a court that size. The crowd, the environment, the feeling of adjusting at the start, to just playing on a court that big.

I only have good memories from that court.

Q. (Question about having Romeo Beckham in the Royal Box.)

EMMA RADUCANU: I think he's, yeah, really cool. His dad is someone that I think every athlete looks up to, especially every British athlete. What he's kind of gone through with the media, with his career, with the pressure moments. Having David in my first round at the front, he was there from the start, at first point, even when the crowd was pretty empty.

I have utmost respect for him. I think he's just amazing for British sport in general.

Q. How long did it take you to accept Andy Murray's offer to play mixed doubles here?

EMMA RADUCANU: I got asked, literally like 10 seconds, I was like, Yeah. For me, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I think some things are bigger than just tennis. I think some things are a once-in-a-lifetime memory that you're going to have for the rest of your life. To play at Wimbledon with Andy Murray, those things don't come by.

At the end of my life, at the end of my career when I'm like 70 years old, I know I'm going to have that memory of playing Wimbledon with Andy Murray on a home slam.

For me, yeah, it was an honor to be asked.

Q. You play Maria Sakkari next. The last time you played her, it was a pretty big occasion. What are your memories of that? Can you take anything from that match?

EMMA RADUCANU: Yeah, I think it was in the semis of the US Open. Circumstances are different. Like, in a third round compared to a semifinal. At the time the dynamics were also different. I was an unknown player pretty much.

I'm expecting a really tough match. She's top in the world, I don't know, top 10 or something. It's going to be a really difficult one.

Again, it's going to be one where I'm the complete underdog and I can just enjoy playing in my home crowd, home slam, yeah, just keep having fun and trying to stay an extra day.

Q. There seemed a real freedom about your tennis today, the way you were playing. Marketa was in here yesterday talking about the freedom she had playing here a year ago, how she's been trying to find that again. Has that been a quest for you as well, to try to find the freedom in your tennis again? Do you feel like that's something you have refound?

EMMA RADUCANU: I think it's a really difficult challenge. I don't think it's something that clicks overnight and all of a sudden you have the freedom. I think it's a process that you have to give and take. Sometimes you feel like you're taking a few steps forward, and then you take a step back. I think that's normal with any progress. It's never really plain sailing through it.

I think certain matches this year I've played with a lot more freedom, others I've been more tentative, more passive.

I think as long as I'm trending in the right trajectory, then I'm happy and moving forwards.

Q. Do you ever think about the parallels between what happened three years ago and here, the fact the draw opened up in New York, you're playing Sakkari, positive emotions from there can help you in the next 10 days or so?

EMMA RADUCANU: I forgot which press conference, but I saw Rafa come in. The journalists were asking, What if, what if. What ifs don't exist.

I think you just have to take every moment as it comes and deal with the circumstances because it's very easy to get caught up in, yeah, parallels, things that have happened in the past. But no situation is the same. Dynamics are always changing.

I think for me, I'm just trying to stay focused on what I can do today, take care of every minute in my day, yeah, letting the rest flow.

Q. You characterize your round one match as winning ugly, like the England football team. How would you characterize your performance today?

EMMA RADUCANU: I'd say I enjoyed it. I had a lot of fun. I think that when my character shows through my tennis is when I play my best.

Yeah, I'm really pleased with that. Honestly, me following Carlos, it was pretty cool to watch him play because he has the same sort of demeanor and just enjoyment of the sport.

Yeah, it's just good to follow and watch.

Q. Going to the mixed doubles again with Andy, on court you said it's been a dream since watching the Olympics. Can you expand on your memories of that.

EMMA RADUCANU: Yeah, I think since you really had an understanding that that was a mixed doubles event at Wimbledon, it's always been something that I've obviously wanted to do. Then seeing him win silver here with Laura, I was so far away from it at that time, it was like a faraway dream.

I think the decision was for sure made as well for that kid who was, like, dreaming of this moment. I think it's important to not lose sight of that, not let go of those feelings as a kid, why you started playing sport, why you want to play on these big courts.

Yeah, it's just a real honor and I'm just really excited.

Q. You could tell how dialed in you were in every department today. Would you be tempted to describe that as possibly your most complete individual display since everything changed for you in New York?

EMMA RADUCANU: I think I played very well, but I don't think it was my best match since US Open. I think I've played a few matches that I was personally probably happier with.

But, of course, today I'm very pleased with, again, how I handled situations. I mean, it's always a lot of fun, but it's never easy stepping out onto a massive court and, yeah, playing in front of the home crowd. It's not straightforward.

I think the way I handled that, the first game going Love-30, then regrouping, finding a good rhythm, I'm very pleased with that, but I wouldn't say it was my best performance.

Q. Are you going to try to vote before you practice tomorrow? Will you also keep an eye on the general election in the evening?

EMMA RADUCANU: No (smiling). I think I'll have a lie-in, then I'll come to practice. I didn't even know it was tomorrow, to be honest. Thanks for letting me know (smiling).

Q. What is your hope for Andy's experience and the remainder of this Wimbledon and the two forms of doubles that he'll be playing, also the crowd reception?

EMMA RADUCANU: I think I want obviously to do well with him. I'm not playing to kind of lose. I really don't want to let him down. Of course, that's the one thing I don't want to do.

Yeah, I'm going to be on my best form, trying hard. Probably be more nervous for that than the singles.

I think, yeah, I just wish him the best. I think Wimbledon is Andy Murray and Andy Murray is Wimbledon. Yeah, I just want to see him do well.

Q. You're playing Zhang Shuai in the mixed doubles. She says that you speak incredibly adorable Chinese. That's literally what she said. Is it possible you can say something in Chinese to reply to that?

EMMA RADUCANU: (Speaking in Chinese.)

I can't believe I'm playing her, to be honest. Like, she's been so helpful to me.