On June 30th locally, home favorite Raducanu attended the Wimbledon pre-tournament press conference. This year marks her return to the All England Club after a two-year absence. To better prepare for Wimbledon, she skipped Roland Garros and achieved notable results in recent grass court warm-up events. She expressed her satisfaction with her preparations and anticipation for continuing her form at Wimbledon.
Raducanu’s profile picture
Raducanu reached the semifinals in Nottingham and the quarterfinals in Eastbourne, saying that grass is currently her preferred surface: “I really enjoy playing on grass. I deliberately skipped Roland Garros to have more time to prepare on grass and adapt physically. Obviously, I’ve done well on hard courts, but I want to become a more all-round player. This year was the first time I felt I could perform well on clay too, especially indoors at Billie Jean King Cup, though outdoor clay is a different story. That will be something to consider next year. For now, I definitely prefer faster surfaces.”
Raducanu will open her Wimbledon campaign on Center Court against 22nd seed Alexandrova. The Brit acknowledges that she is the underdog in this match: “I think it’s going to be a tough battle. She has a strong record on grass. She’s older, more experienced, and ranked higher, so she’s the favorite. I played on Center Court in 2022, which was a very special experience, so I’m also looking forward to Monday.”
“After finishing Eastbourne, I only arrived here last night, so I haven’t had much time to think about it. Right now, I feel like I’m in a good place. I had a great grass court preparation this year, getting some matches in while not overexerting myself, especially after those high-level matches in Eastbourne, which built my confidence. I hope to carry that momentum forward.”
Former world number one Murray is yet to confirm his participation in the men’s singles event. Raducanu expresses her eagerness to see the respected compatriot compete: “A tournament like Wimbledon makes you want to play so badly, pushing through recovery and doing everything possible. I’m glad to see him in the draw. When I think of Wimbledon, I think of Andy. He’s been a hero for us growing up! It’s great to have him around, and I really hope he can play!”
(Translated by/Evelyn, Edited by/Wang Fei)
Sounds_Latecs: Hoping to Carry Grass Momentum, Excited for Centre Court Debut. Author：Sports UEFA.Please indicate the source when reproduced：https://www.sportsuefa.com/tennis-hotline/sounds_latecs-hoping-to-carry-grass-momentum-excited-for-centre-court-debut.html
