Emma Raducanu has won her opening match at Wimbledon 2024, beating lucky loser Renata Zarazua on Monday to book her spot in the second round.
There was a dramatic late switch for the second match on Centre Court on day one of the Championships after 22nd-seed Ekaterina Alexandrova withdrew.
Raducanu, who was given a wildcard for Wimbledon, was originally due for a tough opener against Russia’s Alexandrova but illness forced her out on Monday morning with the British star then drawn to face world No.98 Zarazua instead.
That was a huge boost for Raducanu as the 2021 US Open champion – ranked inside the world top 10 in 2022 went on to conjure up a 7-6 (7-0) 6-3 first-round win and she will now next face Belgian world No.33 Elise Mertens in SW19.
Raducanu is currently ranked down at No.135 after a long period of inactivity in 2023 due to long-term injury problems which forced her into triple surgery.
The 21-year-old headed into Wimbledon in fine form, though, reaching the Nottingham Open semi-finals and Eastbourne International quarter-finals in June, admitting on Saturday she’d had her best-ever preparation for a Grand Slam.
Raducanu took the lead in the first set saving break point before her opponent collapsed in game five lashing two backhand shots into the net to secure the Briton the first break of the match, which she followed up with a hold to lead 4-2.
Zarazua managed to level up the set at 4-4, though, as Raducanu was made to pay the price for a costly service game, handing her opponent the break when she mishit a crosscourt forehand into the tramlines.
That forced a tie-break perhaps the most one-sided tie-break you’ll ever see – as Raducanu took it 7-0 to delight the British crowd, who let out a huge roar as their young superstar wrapped up the first set 7-6 (7-0) to edge towards victory.
Raducanu then took firm control in game six of the second set securing the break when her opponent went long with a forehand and that was all she needed to wrap things up 7-6 (7-0) 6-3 and raise the roof on Centre Court.
Raducanu said in her on-court interview after securing the win as cited by Sports Central: ‘It was an incredibly difficult match. ‘I’ve barely played a defender who’s landed the ball on the baseline and it took a lot of strength to get the ball back. ‘It’s not easy for her you’re not playing in the morning and suddenly you’re on Centre Court. Thanks to everyone for getting me over the line. ‘I found out at 10:30 today [that my opponent had changed] and for the last three days we were playing with similar opponents. It took a little bit of adjusting to find my feet.
She added: ‘Thank you for the suport in crucial moments. I really enjoyed being back here. I’m incredibly happy to be back here. ‘I was nervous, I’m sure everyone could see that in my tennis. Honestly watching the football last night [England beating Slovakia at Euro 2024] it was winning ugly it all counts! ‘I think it’s such a buzz in the summer time. I think the tennis, football, F1, it uplifts everyone, myself included and my motivation is to keep coming back here, keep playing and feel that buzz.’
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