Emma Raducanu pours cold water on Tim Henman’s big Wimbledon prediction about her

Emma Raducanu didn’t want to get too much into Tim Henman’s predictions, saying for the start she would be happy to win her Wimbledon opener. Earlier this month, former top-ranked British male tennis player Henman tipped Raducanu and Katie Boulter to do well at this year’s Wimbledon edition and reach the round-of-16 at The All England Club. Leading up to Wimbledon, Raducanu had some promising results as she was a semifinalist in Nottingham and also made the quarterfinal at this week’s WTA 500 tournament in Nottingham. All of that led to the 21-year-old Briton hearing her name being mentioned in a positive context ahead of the third Grand Slam of the season.

“I definitely think they (Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter) both could be in the second week. It’s going to be interesting to see,” Henman told Metro earlier this month. On Saturday, 2021 US Open champion Raducanu held her pre-tournament press conference at Wimbledon, where she made the round-of-16 as a wildcard in her Grand Slam debut three years ago. During her presser, a reporter wanted to know how the former world No. 10 felt about the recent comment made by former six-time Grand Slam semifinalist Henman.

Before you get to Raducanu’s answer, it should be noted that she plays No. 22 seed and two-time grass titlist Ekaterina Alexandrova in the Wimbledon first round. “If I get through my first round, I’d be over the moon. Tim has higher expectations, I guess,” Raducanu said, when asked about Henman’s prediction.

Raducanu not putting too much expectations on herself but she is feeling well
After missing the French Open and being out of action for a month and a half, Raducanu started her grass season by making her first WTA semifinal since 2022. Then, Raducanu also draw some positive attention to herself in Eastbourne after beating 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens and also defeating world No. 5 Jessica Pegula for her first top-5 win before falling short to eventual Eastbourne champion Daria Kasatkina in the quarterfinal.

And heading into her third Wimbledon main draw, the 21-year-old Briton feels she is fully ready. “I would say that recently I haven’t been injured. I feel very confident in my body. I was able to play three matches at a high level last week and come out physically unscathed. I think I’m in a really good place. Last year I did a good chunk of work at the end of the year to get back and healthy. I’ve continued that work on throughout this year. I feel good in my body. There’s no doubts,” Raducanu said.

Raducanu issues a major statement on her Wimbledon preparation
Two years ago, Raducanu retired injured in her first grass tournament of the year in Nottingham and she didn’t play again until Wimbledon, where she lost in the second round. But this year, it is a completely different situation and Raducanu went as far as to say that this is the best preparation she had for a Grand Slam.

“Yeah, I would say this preparation has worked out really well. I got a great balance between matches, but also staying fresh and not playing too much. I think the Eastbourne week, it was really helpful in getting some top-level matches, and also to get a really good win in the second round. Yeah, my best win to date. I think I should take a lot of confidence from that,” Raducanu explained.

‘Also it helps not arriving too early, I would say, 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. I’d make the second round, play my match Thursday, but I’ve been there since Monday before. I feel like in week two, but I’m in round two.”

After missing last year’s Wimbledon due to surgeries on her two wrists and her left ankle, Raducanu made a comeback at the start of this season and so far she hasn’t had any serious injuries or setbacks. “I think the biggest win for me is I was able to play three matches back to back. Today physically I actually felt fine. It wasn’t to do with anything being in pain and three high-level matches,” Raducanu said after finishing her Eastbourne run.

“Also yesterday the match was close to three hours. Plus the warmup before, I played almost four hours on court, and this morning I pulled up completely fine. I mean, 1 was surprised about it. That has to be a huge win.”