Emma Raducanu backing England’s Euro 2024 push ahead of Wimbledon opener
Emma Raducanu has shown her support for England’s footballers at the Euro 2024 finals by proudly wearing an England jersey as she prepares to play at Wimbledon on Monday.
Raducanu has previously worn a Tottenham shirt while preparing for a tournament and she was full of smiles as she wore her white shirt with the Three Lions badge as she had her final practice session before her first round match against Russian No 22 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova.
Raducanu missed the Championships last year following surgery on both wrists and one ankle and is still ranked well outside the top 100, but such is her profile she has been scheduled on Centre Court in between Carlos Alcaraz and Coco Gauff.
The hype around the 2021 US Open champion has increased ahead of this year’s Championships at Wimbledon after her encouraging form on grass courts in warm-up events.
Raducanu reached the semi-finals in Nottingham before losing to Katie Boulter in a very tight contest and then claiming her first win over a top-10 opponent against Jessica Pegula on her way to the Eastbourne quarter-finals.
Yet when asked about her ambitions for this year’s Wimbledon, wildcard Raducanu confirmed she has one simple goal.
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“If I get through my first round, I’d be over the moon,” said Raducanu.
“I think it’s a tough match. She’s seeded really well. It’s obviously going to be hard. I think that she’s got great weapons. On this surface, it only amplifies big weapons.
“I’m expecting a really difficult match. I think it’s a match where I’m actually the complete underdog because she’s a lot older, a lot more experienced, ranked a lot higher.
“I feel like it’s just a great opportunity to try to get a good scalp, try to enjoy playing how I have been in the last few weeks, and just get back into it.”
Former British No 1 Laura Robson has set a few more ambitious targets for Raducanu, as she told Tennis365 the 21-year-old Brit could win a few matches at Wimbledon.
“It’s great to see her looking excited to be back on court and up for the challenge,” Robson told Tennis365 in an exclusive interview at a Play Your Way To Wimbledon event.
“I was super impressed with the way Emma and Katie Boulter played in Nottingham and we can be optimistic that both of them can do well at Wimbledon. They will both keep pushing each other along.
“Now I’m expecting Emma to have a good Wimbledon. She’s put the work in, been practising on grass for quite a few weeks now she is looking ready for it.
“Looking at her levels, she is clearly playing well above her ranking. She is already right up there with top players and that will be really nice for Emma to see.
“She will know she is not far off and is in a lot better place than she was six months ago.
“So if I had to pick out a player to watch at Wimbledon in the women’s draw, it would be Emma.”
Raducanu will be within touching distance of a return to the top 100 of the WTA rankings if she can make progress at Wimbledon and that would ensure she could gain direct entry to the US Open in August without the need for qualifying.
