Emma Raducanu began fulfilling home court potential on Monday as the teenager reached the Wimbledon second round 6-4, 6-4 over Alison Van Uytvanck.
The 19-year-old who won the US Open from a qualifying start, spent an hour and three-quarters giving her public what they came to see after overcoming a side strain which forced her to quit her only grass run-up match this month.
“It’s an incredible special feeling to be back at Wimbledon and feel the support,” she said after competing on Centre Court for the first time.
“It’s all worth it to play here, and especially to come through with a win.
“Alison is a tricky opponent, her ball stays low and it’s tough to neutralise her serve.”
The player ranked 338 a year ago here who reached the fourth round in a miracle run, added: “I’m pleased to have come through and hopefully I’ll be out here playing again.
“I’m happy to stay here another day.”
Second seed Anett Kontaveit also scored a win as she beat American Bernarda Pera 7-5, 6-1
First win of the day after the rain-delayed start of play went to Alison Riske, who defeated Swiss qualifier Ylena In-Albon 6-2 6-4.
Third seed Ons Jabeur also wasted no time in racing into the second round with her win over No. 125 debutante Mirjam Bjorklund 6-1, 6-3 as the girlfriend of Canadian Denis Shaovalov went down in the second Grand Slam match of her career.
WTA No. 2 Jabeur showed no sign of the jitters which led to her first-round ouster on clay at Roland Garros just over a month ago.
The victory took just 53 minutes with the Tunisian breakthrough player pleased with a good start.
“I’m pretty happy, I enjoy playing here a lot,” she said a year after beating Venus Williams here on the same Court No. 1 venue.
“It’s a great start for me, hopefully I want to go as far as I can in this tournament and dropping four games is a start.”
A pair of Ukrainians will face off in the second round as Anhelina Kalinina and Lesia Tursenko both advanced in straight sets.
Tursenko beat Brit Jodie Burrage 6-2, 6-3 in a match in which a ball boy collapsed early in the second set but was given sports drinks and sweets by way of “treatment.”
“I think he was just feeling faint. Obviously his blood sugar was really low,” Burrage said. “To be honest, it didn’t affect me too much. I actually came out, hit a great serve, probably the best serve I hit in that match.”
Main photo:- Emma Raducanu Celebrates as she wins first round match,her first ever on centre court – by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
