Emma Raducanu, has placed Centre Court at the height of her distinctions, despite her 2021 US Open title win on Arthur Ashe last year. 

The New York venue is famous for being the physically biggest stage in all of tennis, seating nearly 24,000 spectators. 

But Raducanu, as a Brit and a breakthrough star at Wimbledon last year, values its main court more than its US counterpart. 

She said: “This place for me is still the most special, the most prestigious. 

“Although Centre Court size-wise is smaller than Ashe by quite a lot, it definitely feels bigger in significance. 

“Just the feeling that I get here is definitely special compared to all the other tournaments.

“I wouldn’t take away winning the US Open for anything. 

“No matter what life throws at me, I’ve got that.”

Raducanu feels this way about Centre Court even after just one appearance on it, defeating Alison Van Uytvanck 6-4, 6-4 on Monday to reach the second round. 

The atmosphere was electric in backing the home talent, though Raducanu did need to steady herself while also harnessing the crowd’s energy. 

Tennishead asked the 19-year-old about a gesture she made to herself, lowering her hands to the court as if to calm down. 

She responded by saying: “It’s a bit frustrating if you don’t convert, like, five break points or something. 

“I was probably just [trying to] calm myself down and stay focused. 

“I’d say that I was really just playing every single point like in the moment. 

“That definitely really helped.”

The world number 11 faces Caroline Garcia next, a woman she beat at Indian Wells earlier this year.