Emma Raducanu triumphs on Centre Court debut

Britain’s teenage U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu lived as much as her star billing on her first look on Wimbledon’s Centre Court by beating in-form Belgian Alison van Uytvanck 6-4 6-4 within the first spherical on Monday.

A yr in the past Raducanu reached the fourth spherical as an unknown wildcard earlier than happening to win the U.S. Open towards unimaginable odds, however this time the tenth seed carried the hopes of a nation who haven’t seen a house girls’s champion since Virginia Wade in 1977.

Despite an injury-ravaged build-up that left her participation doubtful till a number of days in the past, Raducanu took the primary set towards the harmful Belgian who had warmed up with two second-tier event victories on grass.

A maiden Centre Court victory for @EmmaRaducanu 🇬🇧#Wimbledon | #CentreCourt100

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 27, 2022

In a match low on constant high quality however with moments of drama, it was Raducanu who tightened the screw, discovering her confidence and vary to interrupt for a 5-4 lead earlier than serving out strongly to present the house followers the victory they so desperately craved.