Emma Raducanu defeated Renata Zarazua in a hard-fought match at Wimbledon securing her spot in the second round

Emma Raducanu made a successful Wimbledon comeback with a hard-fought victory against her late replacement opponent Renata Zarazua. Initially set to play against the 22nd seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, Raducanu found herself facing Zarazua after Alexandrova withdrew due to illness. Despite the unexpected change, Raducanu managed to overcome Zarazua’s unconventional playing style and secure a 7-6 (7-0) 6-3 win, becoming the first British winner at the tournament. Among the spectators in the Royal Box were notable figures such as David Beckham and Sir David Attenborough, witnessing Raducanu’s impressive performance.

The match was far from straightforward, with Zarazua posing challenges for the young British player, forcing Raducanu to display both consistency and aggression to secure the win. After saving two break points in the second set and seizing the opportunity at 3-2 when Zarazua’s level dipped, Raducanu ultimately emerged victorious. Her performance earned her a second-round clash with Belgium’s Elise Mertens, with the potential to capitalize on the open section of the draw following early upsets.

In other Wimbledon action, Wild Card Lily Miyazaki joined Raducanu in the next round, securing a comprehensive victory and setting up a second-round meeting with 14th seed Daria Kasatkina. However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for British players, as Heather Watson’s campaign came to an end after being defeated in straight sets by her doubles partner Greet Minnen.

Additionally, Charles Broom’s Wimbledon debut concluded in a straight-sets loss to Stan Wawrinka, who at 39 years old, achieved a remarkable milestone as just the 10th man in the open era to win a singles match at Wimbledon at his age.