Emma Raducanu speaks out about Jack Draper relationship as Brit duo link-up at Wimbledon
Emma Raducanu speaks out about Jack Draper relationship as Brit duo link-up at Wimbledon
Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper are the British No. 1s and will be looking to carry the home hopes in the heat this week at Wimbledon as they both start their campaigns
Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper are Britain's best hopes of a victory at Wimbledon this summer
(Image: PA )
Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper shared a joint practice session ahead of Wimbledon as they gear up to lead the home charge at SW19.
The two top-ranked British players have known each other since their teenage years – and now take on the responsibility of shouldering the nation's hopes under the sweltering London sun.
"It's amazing," said Raducanu. "I've known him [Draper] for so long, so many years, and when we were both pretty promising juniors, and now to be British No. 1 on both men and women's side as the real thing is, it's pretty cool.
"He's doing so well right now so this Wimbledon, I'm sure, for him, will feel different. But he's in a great place, and hopefully his seeding can help him."
This year, 23 British players are competing in the singles events, with 14 stepping onto the courts on Monday. Raducanu, who has been managing a back problem, begins her tournament facing Welsh wildcard Mimi Xu while world No. 4 Draper kicks off his campaign against Argentina's Sebastian Baez on Tuesday.
"You see so many Brits in the draw, and you see them win their match so you want to win your match," Raducanu added. "It's healthy competition, because you don't want to be the one left behind. And I think that's a good thing, and it's not coming from any bad place.
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Emma Raducanu is once again British No. 1
(Image: Getty )
"It's just like: 'Okay, I want to do the same and then keep going as much as I can. And I think it's amazing for British tennis to have so many Brits in the drawer and some younger players coming through too. It's good to see a new generation.
"It keeps us on our toes. It keeps us hungry to improve. I know I'm going to have to bring a really good level of tennis on Monday if I want to get through it."
Temperatures are expected to reach a record 33C, making this potentially the warmest opening day in Wimbledon history.
British No. 4 Billy Harris, who will take on lucky loser Dusan Lajovic in the third match on Court 15, commented: "Obviously got to try and stay out of the sun today and hydrate tonight and keep the fluids in the body because it is tough if it goes a few hours. You really have to look after the hydration and the fuel tomorrow."
Emma Raducanu with Jack Draper have known each other for years
(Image: Getty. )
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For the first time, three British teenage girls aged 17 or younger – Xu, 17, along with 16-year-olds Hannah Klugman and Mika Stojsavljevic – are part of the women's singles draw.
Raducanu and Draper have largely struggled at Wimbledon, with the former's best effort being a fourth round exit back in 2021, and the latter's being two second round exits in 2022 and 2024.
Both have built up momentum over the past few months, with Draper reaching the semi-finals of the US Open and Raducanu breaking back into the top 50, but much of that will be lost if they fail to make an impact at SW19 in the coming fortnight.
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