Wimbledon: Kerber and Raducanu full of anticipation - "Unique atmosphere"
Angelique Kerber and Emma Raducanu represent two generations of women's tennis players. What unites the Porsche brand ambassadors is their love for Wimbledon. The 34-year-old German has already won the Grand Slam tournament in south-west London, the 19-year-old Brit is still dreaming of victory. They spoke to the Porsche Newsroom about returning to Wimbledon, their feelings and hopes and why they see it as the biggest tennis tournament in the world.
by p.m
last edit: Jun 23, 2022, 05:57 pm
Angelique, Emma - Wimbledon is coming. How excited are you and how ready are you for the most important tournament of the year?
Angelique Kerber: "You're always ready for Wimbledon! Anyone who knows me knows how much I look forward to the grass season every year. Since it's relatively short, I enjoy it all the more intensely. It's actually the case with me that right from the first training session on the grass, actually from the very first rally, I get that special feeling that's associated with so many memories. I just experienced that again at the Bad Homburg Open.”
Emma Raducanu: "I'm really looking forward to Wimbledon. It's my favorite tournament simply because it's such a special place with a unique atmosphere. My memories of Wimbledon go back to my childhood. The UK fans are great too and I can't wait to play in front of them again."
What is special about Wimbledon? The tradition, the location, the strong competition?
Angelique Kerber: “This unique flair fascinates me every year. The great tradition, this spirit of Wimbledon can be felt in every corner of the facility. I am particularly fascinated by the calm on Center Court. Of course, the spectators applaud, but during the rallies there is somehow a characteristic silence.”
Emma Raducanu: “It's all these attributes, especially the great tradition. This tournament has written so many incredible stories over the years. The atmosphere at Wimbledon is also unique in tennis and makes it so fascinating.”
Angelique, when you think back to your victory in 2018 - what images do you have in mind?
Angelique Kerber: "Of course the match point in the final against Serena. Those moments afterwards that kind of went in slow motion. Then the award ceremony, the next evening the Champions Dinner. All of that is still very present in my mind.”
How does it feel to return to Wimbledon as a former winner?
Angelique Kerber: "The return is of course always associated with many memories and emotions that will accompany me throughout my life. My childhood dream came true on Wimbledon Center Court. I invested a lot for it, had to cope with setbacks - but with this success it was all worth it."
How special is it to be a part of Wimbledon history forever?
Angelique Kerber: "It's a great honor. Just seeing his name on the famous winners board gives you goosebumps. There is something immortal about the Wimbledon title and it has enormous appeal, and you only really realize that over time.”
Emma, you dreamed of playing at Wimbledon ever since you were a child. How did it feel when this dream came true in 2021?
Emma Raducanu: “It was just great. I had so much fun and wished it would never end. The fans were amazing and I could feel them supporting me more and more with every match. Wimbledon inspired me as a kid trying to get autographs from players there. To come back now and play on the big courts yourself was almost surreal. I had a great time there when I was still playing in the junior competition and reaching the quarterfinals. So 2021 wasn't the first time I played there and the previous experience certainly helped me. All in all, I have very good memories from Wimbledon."
Shortly before Wimbledon 2021 you graduated from school with top marks. How important was it for you to continue going to school after your first tennis success - and how difficult was it to reconcile both?
Emma Raducanu: “School was always very important to me and there was never any question of quitting early. Of course it was challenging because I often missed classes and then had to catch up on the material. Also, because of school, I couldn't play as many tournaments as the others, so it was difficult from both sides. But I am happy that I chose this path. I did quite well in school and worked hard to get good grades."
Are you very fashion conscious? Does it bother you that you have to wear all white at Wimbledon?
Emma Raducanu: “One of the most fascinating aspects of Wimbledon is the tradition. Playing all white brings something of a flawless look, so it doesn't bother me at all. We have enough other tournaments throughout the year where we can wear whatever we want, so that suits me.”
You've been a Porsche brand ambassador for three months. During this time you played at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix and experienced some other activities. What has impressed you the most so far?
Emma Raducanu: “I had a lot of fun with Porsche. The Porsche Tennis Grand Prix is one of the best tournaments on the calendar. The most extraordinary experience for me so far was to visit the Porsche Carrera Cup in Brands Hatch as a fan and to be able to talk to many engineers in the pits. I was even able to do a lap with the safety car. It was all very impressive and now I want to learn even more about the technical side of motorsport. Another impressive experience was testing the all-electric Porsche Taycan. That really convinced me that electric cars can not only be very powerful, but also very exciting to drive.”
What else would you like to experience with Porsche?
Emma Raducanu: “A lot of things! I look forward to learning how to race from the best on the track. And how to drift! Then I want to drive great cars. I still want to learn a lot more from the Carrera Cup teams and from the mechanics. Talking to the engineers is incredibly interesting.”
Angelique, back to Wimbledon. Can you just enjoy this tournament or are you too ambitious for it?
Angelique Kerber: "As a professional player, you naturally want to be successful - especially in the Grand Slam tournaments. Everything is subordinated to this own claim. But there are still moments during a tournament when you gain a little distance and can enjoy it. At Wimbledon, for example, most players don't live in hotels but in rented houses near the facility. It's a great place to withdraw and switch off from time to time."