Emma Raducanu inspired by England to ‘win ugly’ on her Wimbledon return

Not many tennis players realize how crucial it is to make the most of chances like Emma Raducanu does. Her incredible victory at the 2021 US Open was a perfect example of seizing the moment when everything aligned in her favor. Her world has changed drastically ever since.

When Ekaterina ­Alexandrova pulled out at the last minute as her first-round opponent, Emma Raducanu, the 22nd seed at Wimbledon, faced a potential challenge on the opening day of her third Wimbledon. Walking onto Centre Court as the expected winner in her first match, Raducanu had to deal with the pressure that comes with that role. Despite some early struggles, the 21-year-old managed to secure a hard-fought 7-6 (0), 6-3 victory against lucky loser Renata Zarazúa to advance to the second round.

At the draw event on Friday, Raducanu was given a challenging match against Alexandrova, a consistent top-30 player who excels on grass courts. However, on Monday it was announced that Alexandrova withdrew due to illness. Zarazúa, a crafty but less powerful 26-year-old Mexican player who lost a close three-set match in the final qualifying round, took her place.

Even though Raducanu was obviously a better tennis player than her surprise opponent, facing someone new at the last minute presented some tough obstacles. "It's really tough," Raducanu explained. "I only had a few hours' notice. When you've been preparing to play against one person since the draw was announced, and then suddenly you have to adjust to a completely different style of player, it can be challenging. But ultimately, it's all about going out there and competing."

Sloane Stephens found herself in a similar situation when Victoria Azarenka withdrew even later. She shared her frustration after defeating Elsa Jacquemot, saying, "Having a different opponent just an hour before the match is not ideal. I wouldn't recommend it. It was a frustrating experience."

At only 5 feet and 3 inches tall, Zarazúa has had to find unique strategies to defeat taller and stronger players in tennis matches. Starting from the beginning of the match, she demonstrated her clever playing style by engaging ­Raducanu in long rallies with her agility and precise shots. She also varied the speed and angle of her shots to keep her opponent on her toes.

Prepared to face a strong opponent who hits the ball low and hard, Raducanu found herself in a position where she had to control most of the rallies and try to end them quickly. Raducanu likes to use her opponent's power against them, but she had a tough time in the beginning. She couldn't overpower Zarazúa, who kept mixing up her shots with slices and drop shots, forcing Raducanu to move around the court and play from uncomfortable positions.

Despite Raducanu being the first to break serve and take a 4-2 lead, she still struggled with tension throughout the first set. Her return of serve, usually a strong point, was not very effective, and she did not put much pressure on Zarazúa's serve. However, Raducanu managed to hold on until the tie-break, serving well and showing great energy and determination to win the set.

After winning the first set, Raducanu began to hit the ball harder, putting pressure on her opponent's serve. She managed to break serve in the second set with strong returns, maintaining her lead until the end by holding serve confidently.

"I think my performance had something to do with it," Raducanu explained. "It wasn't perfect tennis. The ball striking wasn't clean and beautiful. I was more focused on handling my opponent and the challenges that came my way."

Raducanu likened her hard-fought victory to England's recent win against Slovakia in Euro 2024. She admitted feeling nervous during her tennis match, but emphasized the importance of pushing through to the end. She drew inspiration from the football game she watched the night before, noting that sometimes winning in a less-than-perfect way is still a victory.

Yesterday evening, I had a hunch that they would make a comeback. The individuals I was watching with were unsure. As the game reached the 93rd minute, I had a premonition. Then Jude Bellingham scored that incredible goal.

"Today I took it as a source of inspiration. It doesn't have to be flawless, it doesn't have to be ideal. Just by making it through the initial stages, you're giving yourself an opportunity to improve. As long as you remain in the competition, you're providing yourself with that chance for things to fall into place."

One year after not being able to participate in Wimbledon and eight months after undergoing surgeries on her wrists and ankle, Raducanu is back at the All England Club with a positive victory. Through her composure, she has effectively replaced the 22nd seed in the tournament and will now compete against Elise Mertens in the upcoming round. Mertens advanced to the second round with a 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 win against Nao Hibino.

"In my initial press conference, I mentioned that I would be extremely happy if I were to win my first match here," Raducanu explained. "And that is exactly how I feel. I am filled with happiness being here, being part of the excitement. I am simply having a great time."

I believe that every victory I achieve deserves to be recognized and appreciated. Winning a match is a challenge, and I understand the effort it takes to succeed. After experiencing a few wins, I value each one even more because I recognize the struggle that comes with losing.