HSBC CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 10, 2025

Emma Raducanu

Queens Club

Press Conference

E. RADUCANU/C. Bucsa

6-1, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations, Emma, on your first-round win. What are your thoughts on the match?

EMMA RADUCANU: Yeah, I'm pleased. I think it was a very clean performance. I'm really pleased with what I was able to put out on the court despite any first-round nerves. Also, playing at home, it was an amazing experience, but the same time, it does make you a little bit extra nervous maybe before the match.

Yeah, to have that as my first match after transitioning from clay to grass, it was pretty good.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. You said you felt locked in in that performance. Can you sometimes tell when you go onto court it's going to be one of those days where you feel you have a sort of swagger about you and everything will go your way?

EMMA RADUCANU: I think I built my way into the match. I didn't necessarily feel that from the get-go, but I think as the match went on, I definitely got that. I was really feeling it.

Yeah, it's one of those days that you feel really good on the court. Sometimes you don't necessarily feel like that, but when you do have that feeling, you need to capitalize. I'm just happy with how I dealt with the whole situation.

Q. I think live you are British No. 1, at least for this evening, just having gone ahead of your doubles partner.

EMMA RADUCANU: Really?

Q. Yeah. You are 37 live, I think, and she's 38 because she's defending points this week. I think it's the highest ranking you have been since US Open 2022, as well. In terms of milestones, this feels like it's been quite a long but gradual comeback. Does that British No. 1 status hold anything for you to get that back, if you like?

EMMA RADUCANU: Well, I mean, the tournament is still young, and Katie can go on a rip this week, as well. Honestly, it's nice in a way having something to chase at 1, but we have such a great relationship that it's a very healthy competition.

I think honestly, as a team right now, we are so strong with all of us doing well and all of us through to the second round pretty much. It really helps the Billie Jean King Cup having a strong 1 too, especially. Me and Katie right now, at least, I think we really help the team in that way.

I just know that I can trust her in those team situations, and those competitions, I actually put a lot of heart and emotion into. I'm really looking forward to playing it hopefully later in the year. Yeah, it's just a great environment, to be honest. It's a healthy competition.

Q. Now that you're the higher-ranked player in doubles, will you be making the calls tomorrow rather than her?

EMMA RADUCANU: (Laughter.) No, she still has more doubles experience, so she can still tell me what to do, and I try and execute like yesterday.

Q. I think it was your biggest win since you beat Vika in Cincinnati in 2022. That must give you a lot of confidence. What were you most happy with? There was quite a keen debate among us, and some of us said your forehand and others said your movement. As the match went on, your movement seemed to be pretty good.

EMMA RADUCANU: Yeah, I think the biggest thing I'm proud of is just the way I handled the situation. I think going out there, it's such a great atmosphere, and it really helps in those moments when I was Love-30, when it was deuce. But, I mean, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous before the match.

The way I overcame that I think is really, for me, a great achievement. I think I did move really well, considering I haven't necessarily had much time on the grass.

But I think, like, the biggest thing, I started the point really well today, serve and return. It was very clean and clinical, wasn't giving away too many free points, and also got quite a few good setups and good points from my serve.

Q. You said before the tournament that you had a back spasm. Didn't look like there was anything troubling you out there. Was it in the back of your mind, or did it affect you at all?

EMMA RADUCANU: Yeah, I'm still managing it. I still feel it, but I guess today I played really well, so it's just something that is a bit ongoing for me right now, but I'm happy with how I kind of handled it today.

Q. Yesterday you played on the doubles court, and now you have played on the main arena. What was it like walking out there at Queen's for the first time today?

EMMA RADUCANU: Yes, playing the HSBC Championships for the first time is amazing. Watching it on TV, it's so different to playing it live and getting a feel for the arena and the crowd, and it is a big stadium.

I hadn't practiced on it before, so I wasn't really sure what to expect. When you look up, it's a really big size. Yeah, it's a great atmosphere. To have the crowd pulling for you is amazing. I'm just so happy, and I want to stay in the tournament as long as I can to feel that atmosphere.

Q. You obviously had a bit of a different matchup with Cristina at the start of the year. Had that been playing on your mind at all ahead of the match?

EMMA RADUCANU: Yeah, it was. When I saw her name in the draw, I was knowing that was going to be a difficult match. I think that really focused me, and I was very, very sharp and wanted to get every point and score as many as I could, because I lost to her earlier in the year, and I know how tricky she can be.

With her defense and her slices, it can stay low and shoot on this surface. It was playing on my mind. Yeah, it probably added to the nerves before today, but I think the way I kind of took my game to her on this surface, as well, it helped me out, I think.

Q. You seemed to be quite relaxed out there enjoying yourself. Smiled quite a lot. For you to be at your best, is that the state of mind you need to be in? Because it could easily be tense and nervous, as you say, going out. Is this the degree of serenity you need to be able to enjoy the moment?

EMMA RADUCANU: Yeah, for sure. I think having a good environment on and off the court helps, for sure. I think I'm in a pretty good place right now.

Going onto the court laughing at certain shots or I'm smiling if I have pulled off a great shot, it does help relax you. I play my best when my personality is put on the court and I can express myself, and I feel like sometimes when I've been constrained to play a certain way, it hasn't necessarily worked, and I just need to be free and expressive, and then certain moments of creativity can come up.

Q. Does that mean in yourself, you said to be yourself more, is that the natural Emma Raducanu rather than some sort of manufactured version of you?

EMMA RADUCANU: Yeah, yes. I mean, it's easier said than done to be yourself, especially when you're on such a big stage, but for sure when I am playing freely, when I am swinging and taking on chances, that is when I'm at my best.

Yeah, then I think as that happened today, I could kind of relax into it and more and more could come up.

Q. I know you've got Nick with you this week, and we saw Petch in your box yesterday. I don't know how quickly he came back from Paris. But for the first couple of days with them together, what's that dynamic been like? And is it a dynamic you'd want to continue beyond the grass?

EMMA RADUCANU: Yeah, it's been a good dynamic. I think we are all pulling for the same thing. We all just want to improve.

Yeah, I think the goal right now is just to improve my skill level and just have a higher base level. To have both of them here, I really enjoy, I think it's a good atmosphere. They complement each other really well.

Q. You'll be playing Rebecca in the next round. Do you have any thoughts on that? On Sunday you said you have pretty low expectations. Are they rising ever so slightly now?

EMMA RADUCANU: I mean, it's a really difficult match. I watched Rebecca beat Katie at Fed Cup last year. Yeah, she played really, really well.

I know I have a tough challenge on my hands. She loves low, fast balls, and this surface probably suits her. It's going to be a really difficult match, but I have to enjoy the win for today and focus on my doubles tomorrow.

Q. (Off mic.)

EMMA RADUCANU: Staying low (smiling).