"Daniel Ricciardo would be my favorite as his skills & laid-back style are more fun & conducive to learning"- Emma Raducanu on her preferred F1 driver

Emma Raducanu is set to kickstart her claycourt season in Stuttgart this week. The Brit, who secured her first professional win on the surface in Britain's Billie Jean King Cup qualifying tie against Czech Republic, will face Australia's Storm Sanders on Wednesday.

The WTA 500 event is sponsored by luxury automobile company Porsche, for whom Raducanu was announced as a brand ambassador last month. In an interview with Porsche ahead of the tournament, the reigning US Open champion expressed her fascination for motorsports.

She named the '911' model as her favorite sportscar from the German brand, before pronouncing Daniel Ricciardo as her favorite Formula One driver.

"I’d like it to be in a 911 because it’s my favourite, or perhaps the super sporty 718 Cayman GT4," Raducanu said. "As for the [F1] driver, Daniel Ricciardo would be my favourite as I think his skills and laid-back style are more fun and conducive to learning and improving fast."

The 19-year-old went on to recall how her karting experience as a young girl kindled a passion for motorsports within her. Raducanu revealed that she became a motocross enthusiast as she grew up and didn't mind getting smeared in mud on the dirt tracks.

"I started early as a 6-year-old girl going karting and it made me feel different from other girls and boys in a very special and positive way. Much cooler," the World No. 12 revealed. "I had so much fun once I started to get confident at it. Later, Motocross was a step up in the challenge from go karting. But also lots of fun. Let’s be honest, which kid doesn’t like getting dirty in the mud?”

When asked to describe her driving skills, Emma Raducanu explained that she typically drives with caution but doesn't shy away from stepping on the accelerator when permitted.

"I would say I am a very safe and pretty decent driver who enjoys going fast when permitted," Raducanu said. "When I’m back home, I drive 3 hours a day to train. On my travels I don’t get to drive very often as I’m still too young for car rentals."

Emma Raducanu handed a tricky draw in Stuttgart

Emma Raducanu in action at the Billie Jean King Cup play-off

Emma Raducanu has landed in the top quarter of the draw in Stuttgart alongside World No. 1 Iga Swiatek. The Pole has won the last three WTA 1000 events in Doha, Indian Wells and Miami and is the firm favorite to lift the trophy in Stuttgart. Before a potential meeting with Swiatek, however, the Brit will have to navigate tricky clashes against Storm Sanders and German lucky loser Tamara Korpatsch.

Should she emerge unscathed from this quarter, Raducanu could meet either former champion Petra Kvitova or fourth seed Maria Sakkari in the semifinals.

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