Emma Raducanu has revealed her determination not to be "the one left behind" as fellow British tennis star Jack Draper arrives at Wimbledon as the fourth seed.
The 2021 US Open champion admitted to feeling the pressure of healthy competition with her compatriot.
"You see them win their match so you want to win your match, and it's that kind of healthy competition, because you don't want to be the one left behind, you know? And I think that's a good thing, and it's not coming from any bad place," Raducanu told the Guardian.
The 23-year-old Draper enters the Championships as a genuine title contender, hoping to become the first British man to lift the trophy since Andy Murray's triumph in 2016.
Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper have potentially tough paths at Wimbledon
ReutersHis remarkable ascent to the world's top five represents a significant shift in British tennis fortunes.
Raducanu, meanwhile, arrives unseeded at SW19, a stark contrast to the expectations that followed her sensational New York victory four years ago.
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The disparity in their current rankings underscores the divergent paths their careers have taken.
Draper faces a formidable draw, with potential quarter-final and semi-final encounters against Novak Djokovic and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz respectively.
Despite the competitive edge, Raducanu expressed genuine admiration for Draper's achievements.
"It is amazing," she said.
"I've known him for so long, so many years, and when we were juniors, we were both pretty promising, and now to kind of be British No 1 on both men and women's side and the real thing is, it's pretty cool."
She acknowledged the significance of his seeding at this year's Championships.
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Emma Raducanu is unseeded as she prepares her Wimbledon campaign
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"So this Wimbledon, I'm sure, for him, will feel different, but he's in a great place, and obviously with his seeding you know, hopefully it can help him."
Their parallel journeys from promising juniors to leading British tennis exemplify the nation's continued strength in the sport.
Raducanu has discovered a new approach to her game through unexpected interests off court.
"It is something I've discovered recently," she said of enrolling in a one-year art history course.
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Jack Draper has been tipped as a genuine contender this year at Wimbledon
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The 22-year-old believes this broader perspective enhances her performance.
"I think when I play my best, I'm very free. I'm enjoying it, I don't have to be so serious and 'on' all the time, because sometimes on the court, if you're laughing, it can be seen as unserious.
"But actually for me, it's a better way, and I'm probably going to play better than if I'm just putting so much pressure on myself to be 'on' and perfect."
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