Former British No. 1 Johanna Konta has advised Emma Raducanu just to do “her own thing” at Wimbledon. Raducanu, the 11th-ranked player in the world, is now the top-ranked British female player and she is the new face of British tennis.
For many years, Konta was the top-ranked British female player and she certainly dealt with lots of pressure and expectation at Wimbledon. “I think it’s different for everyone and everyone deals with and digests it differently,” Konta told talkSport.
“I never quite felt it as pressure, it was always a massive positive to be able to play at home and in front of a home crowd. To walk out onto one of our biggest stadiums, have it packed, play all my matches on Centre or Court 1 and the majority of people there rooting for me.
For me to be able to part of an entertainment process that gave people a memorable day that a lot of these people might be talking about for the next decade or two. There’s not much pressure in that, it’s more of an occasion that you look to rise to and look to absorb and enjoy”.
Konta on Raducanu playing on the Centre Court
On Monday, Raducanu kicked off her Wimbledon campaign with a 6-4 6-4 win over Alison van Uytvanck. Raducanu’s first round match was scheduled for the Centre Court and she is expected and she should expect to play on the Centre Court as long as her Wimbledon run lasts.
Konta was asked what advice she would give to Raducanu before stepping out on the Centre Court. “I would say for her to do her own thing and digest it in the way it applies to her,” Konta said. “It’s so individual, no two players have the same career or go out and play the same matches.
It really is personal. What she has shown is she is very much aware of her own individuality and what works for her. I think it’s for her to keep doing her”.
