Emma Raducanu recently expressed her aversion to arriving early at Grand Slam tournaments.
While many top players prioritize punctuality at major tournaments to adequately prepare and adjust to conditions, Raducanu finds it tiresome to have idle days without playing matches. This led the former US Open champion to participate in two grass warm-up tournaments before Wimbledon.
The 21-year-old received wild cards for the WTA 250 in Nottingham and the WTA 500 in Eastbourne, showcasing impressive performances in both events. She reached the semifinals in Nottingham, ultimately losing to compatriot Katie Boulter who went on to win the tournament.
In Eastbourne, Raducanu reached the quarterfinals but fell to the reigning champion Daria Kasatkina. However, the highlight was her victory over World No. 5 Jessica Pegula, marking her first Top 10 win.
Her deep run in the week preceding Wimbledon led to a late arrival at SW19. Raducanu acknowledged that this preparation was one of her best before a Grand Slam, striking a balance between matches and rest.
“I would say this preparation has worked out really well. I got a great balance between matches, but also stayed fresh and did not play too much. I think the Eastbourne week was really helpful in getting some top level matches and also to get a really good win in the second round and yeah my best win to date.”
Raducanu also emphasized that early arrivals at Grand Slam tournaments can disrupt her rhythm due to fewer matches in a week, which is why she opted to compete in the final week before Wimbledon.
“So I think I should take a lot of confidence from that and also it helps, you know, not arriving too early to the site. Because sometimes when you arrive too early, you have time to think.”
“I’ve done it before where I’ve not played before the Grand Slam, and I’d make the second round, play my match on Thursday, but I’ve been there since Monday before, so I feel like I’m in week two, but I’m in round two so it’s also helpful just to keep momentum, keep things going, and think less.”
