Emma Raducanu vs Renata Zarazua RECAP: Brit wins opening match in Wimbledon return | Tennis | Sport
Emma Raducanu defeated lucky loser Renata Zarazua 7-6(0) 6-3 as she made her long-awaited return to Wimbledon on Monday.
It was Raducanu’s first outing at the All England Club since 2022 when she lost to Caroline Garcia in the second round. The former US Open champion was cruelly forced to miss her home Grand Slam last year after undergoing wrist and ankle surgeries.
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The British No. 3 faced a last-minute change of opponent when 22nd seed Ekaterina Alexandrova withdrew due to illness and was replaced by world No. 98 Zarazua. Raducanu initially struggled with the Mexican’s tricky brand of play as she continued to find the lines under pressure.
But the 2021 US Open champion played a perfect tiebreak and earned a crucial break in the second set to advance to the second round. She will now face Elise Mertens.
Relive the full match with Express Sport’s updates below…
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Raducanu cracks England joke after winning
Emma Raducanu addressed the Centre Court crowd after taking out lucky loser Renata Zarazua to advance to the second round of Wimbledon.
“Well I mean it was an incredibly difficult match. I think I’ve barely if ever played a defended who’s literally landed the ball on the baseline or just kept getting the ball back. It took a lot of strength to get over the line,” she said of the contest.
Raducanu was meant to face Alexandrova but the 22nd seed withdrew this morning citing illness. Asked what it was like to handle the late change in opponent, the 2021 US Open winner said: “I found out at like 10:30 today and for the last three days we’ve been playing, setting up practices with similar opponents and all of a sudden it’s a change of player. It took a little bit of adjusting and finding my feet but I just want to say thank you to everyone for the support in crucial moments.”
And Raducanu referenced England’s win over Slovakia on Sunday night. “Honestly watching the football last night it was like winning ugly. It all counts!” she laughed.
3 months ago18:24 Yasmin Syed
GAME, SET AND MATCH RADUCANU 7-6(0) 6-3
After blowing a match point in the previous game, Raducanu has it on her racket.
And she shows no nerves as she serves for the victory. She successfully chases down a drop shot and responds with one of her own to lead 40-0.
Raducanu gets the job done, closing it out to love to book her spot in the second round.
She ends the match with 17 winners and 30 unforced errors, and will now face Elise Mertens.
Emma Raducanu won her opening match in straight sets (Image: Getty)
Zarazua 6 – 7 3 – 5 Raducanu*
After getting the dream opportunity to play on Centre Court at Wimbledon as a lucky loser thanks to Alexandrova’s withdrawal, Zarazua knows that her time in the main draw is running out.
The world No. 98 serves to stay in the match and looks to be cruising at 30-0.
But Raducanu wants to get the job done now and she gives herself a match point by drawing out an error from the lucky loser.
Zarazua saves it and a cat-and-mouse game ensues. The 26-year-old needs three game points to get over the line and the pressure is on Raducanu to serve it out.
*Zarazua 6 – 7 2 – 5 Raducanu
And after some nerves and the threat of Zarazua breaking immediately back, Raducanu held and is now one point away from confirming a place in the second round.
Raducanu fell 30-15 behind but some encouragement from the Centre Court crowd was enough to spur the home star on.
Zarazua 6 – 7 2 – 4 Raducanu* – RADUCANU BREAKS!
Raducanu has broken and a chance to put one foot in the second round, powering a strong effort at the baseline to leave Zarazua unable to return.
She nearly won 40-15 but Zarazua’s return just about fell on the right side of the net, but once Zarazua’s forehand went long the Brit got the break she desired.
*Zarazua 6 – 7 2 – 3 Raducanu
Raducanu has been under some pressure in this second set and it’s the same again as she goes 15-30 down.
She successfully challenges an out call on her serve and a bird flies onto the court, interrupting her next service motion and earning some laughs from the crowd.
Raducanu reels off three straight points to keep herself ahead. The Brit is three games of winning the match but there’s still not been any breaks in this set. Can Raducanu change that?
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Zarazua 6 – 7 2 – 2 Raducanu*
Raducanu finds the corner as she perfectly places a backhand winner across the court for 15-15.
But an injection of pace from Zarazua gives her some trouble and she sends the ball long.
The 26-year-old holds on for 2-2. Still all level here in the second.
*Zarazua 6 – 7 1 – 2 Raducanu
Raducanu learns a loud applause as she reels off another backhand winner while 0-30 down.
But she finds herself facing two break points after making her 21st unforced error of the match.
Zarazua blows the first when she sends the ball wide. And the lucky loser makes another costly mistake to end an 11-shot rally.
Raducanu runs her rival around at deuce and gets herself to game point. She wins a fourth point in a row to avoid the break and stay ahead on score.
Zarazua 6 – 7 1 – 1 Raducanu*
It’s taken more than an hour but Zarazua hits her first double fault for 15-15.
But she wins the next three points to get herself on the board in the second.
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*Zarazua 6 – 7 0 – 1 Raducanu
Raducanu is already up before the end of the break in between sets. The Brit waits at the baseline as Zarazua returns from an off-court break, clearly wanting to carry her momentum from a flawless tiebreak that capped off a 65-minute set.
Zarazua’s return in the first point of the second set clips the net and lands in. Raducanu manages to get to it but she sends the ball long.
The former world No. 10 tolds to 30 to get on the board at the beginning of the second.
3 months ago17:33 Yasmin Syed
FIRST SET RADUCANU!
It’s a perfect tiebreak from Raducanu who takes it 7-0 without dropping a point.
After changing ends, she seals the deal when Zarazua’s return goes wide.
The Centre Court crowd are deafening as they cheer on their woman.
Emma Raducanu took the first set in a tiebreak (Image: Getty)
Zarazua 6 – 6 (0 – 6) Raducanu*
Raducanu and Zarazua change ends after the first six points of the tiebreak, which have all gone the way of the home hope.
Raducanu earns an immediate mini-break when her opponent dumps the ball into the net and roars as the fans cheer.
Someone in the crowd beats the Brit to shouting “come on” when she wins the second point as Zarazua’s return sails long. And the British No. 3 shouts in celebration again as she takes a 3-0 lead.
Raducanu has really raised her level in this breaker and she secures another mini-break, pounding a forehand down the court and drawing out an error from the world No. 98.
Another error from Zarazua and it’s still a perfect tiebreak for Raducanu at 5-0. And she changes ends with a 6-0 lead.
Zarazua 6 – 6 Raducanu – TIEBREAK
For the second time, Raducanu must serve to stay in the set.
She takes a 30-15 lead with her 10th winner of the match to end a 17-shot rally.
The Brit holds on and we’re going to a tiebreak here on Centre Court.
Zarazua 6 – 5 Raducanu*
There are cheers and whistles as Raducanu starts the game with a forehand winner.
Zarazua then challenges one of her serves that has been called out and she’s right, it’s caught the line. The point is replayed and Raducanu just sends the ball long after a quick, three-shot rally.
The lucky loser continues to find the lines under presser and puts herself a game away from the set again, guaranteeing herself at least a tiebreak.
*Zarazua 5 – 5 Raducanu
It’s crunch time for Raducanu as she steps up to serve to stay in the opening set.
The Brit roars “come on” as she gets to game point after forcing an error from her opponent at the end of an 11-shot rally.
Zarazua’s return in the next game lands bang on the line and Raducanu has to think quickly to keep the rally going but she loses it when the Mexican hits a winner.
Raducanu is forced to resort to a couple of moonballs but she keeps herself in the set and draws level.
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Zarazua 5 – 4 Raducanu*
The fans attempt to spur on Raducanu when Zarazua takes a 30-0 lead on her serve, sensing the tide has turned.
It works and the 2021 US Open champion sends a forehand winner straight down the line.
But she overcooks the ball and gives the world No. 98 a game point.
After going down an early break, Zarazua sits down a game away from taking the set.
ZARAZUA BREAKS BACK!
Raducanu is in a spot of trouble as back-to-back unforced errors put her at 0-30 down on her own serve.
There’s a loud applause when Raducanu hits a winner and she pumps her fist.
But she finds herself facing two break points after chasing down a drop shot and sending the ball into the net, failing to get an
y height on it.
After sending her first serve long, Raducanu recovers and one of the break points is saved when Zarazua nets the ball on her forehand.
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