Emma Raducanu marked her return to Wimbledon with a hard-fought victory over Mexican lucky loser Renata Zarazua in the first round. The 21-year-old Briton, who missed last year’s tournament due to injury, secured a 7-6 (7-0) 6-3 win on Centre Court.
Raducanu credited England’s dramatic 2-1 comeback win over Slovakia in Sunday’s Euro 2024 last-16 tie as her motivation. “I was nervous, and I think everyone could see that in my tennis, but at the end of the day, you have to do whatever it takes to get over the line,” said the 135th-ranked Raducanu, who received a wildcard entry into the tournament.
Originally set to face 22nd seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, Raducanu found herself against Zarazua after Alexandrova withdrew due to illness. Adjusting to the sudden change, Raducanu eventually found her footing and overcame her nerves.
Zarazua, making her main-draw debut at Wimbledon, pushed Raducanu in a tense match. However, Raducanu’s determination and quality shone through, particularly in a superb net dash to set up a match point. She clinched the victory when Zarazua sent a sliced backhand long.
Expressing her joy, Raducanu said, “I said I’d be over the moon if I won my first round here – and I really am. I feel the joy to be on site, the joy to be part of the buzz. I’m really just enjoying myself.” She will face Belgium’s Elise Mertens in the next round.
Additional British Success at Wimbledon
Lily Miyazaki joined Raducanu in the second round with a 6-2 6-1 win against Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch. The British number four’s first victory in the Wimbledon main draw earned her a meeting with 14th seed Daria Kasatkina. Miyazaki, born in Japan and representing Britain since 2022, impressed with her dominant performance.
Qualifier Sonay Kartal also celebrated a milestone, securing her first WTA Tour win with a 3-6 6-2 6-0 victory over 29th seed Sorana Cirstea. Kartal’s comeback from “scary” health issues earlier this year made the win even more special.
Despite early exits for Heather Watson, Charles Broom, Arthur Fery, and Liam Broady, the British contingent showcased resilience and determination. Watson lost to Belgium’s Greet Minnen, while Broom faced three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka. Fery battled but ultimately lost to Germany’s Daniel Altmaier, and Broady, recovering from a concussion, fell to Dutch player Botic van de Zandschulp.