Sunday, December 22, 2024

Raducanu to face new opponent at Wimbledon in last minute change to schedule

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Emma Raducanu will face a new opponent in the first round of Wimbledon.

Her scheduled opponent, Ekaterina Alexandrova withdrew through illness.

Raducanu now faces a lucky loser in the first round of the 2024 ChampionshipCredit: Getty

Alexandrova was the 22nd seed and a proven competitor on grass and looked a very tricky draw for Raducanu.

She will now now take on lucky loser Renata Zarazua instead at Centre Court on Monday.

The Mexican, who won two matches in qualifying before losing in the final round, is ranked 98, 37 places above Raducanu, but has only won seven matches on grass in her career, none of them at tour level.

Raducanu will make her return to the Wimbledon Centre Court on Monday afternoon after missing last year’s tournament following surgery on both wrists and one ankle.

Jamie Murray reveals whether it will be his brother Andy Murray’s last Wimbledon this year

The 2021 US Open winner admits she feels a little more settled heading into this Wimbledon than she has in recent times.

“I feel a lot more comfortable this year,” she said. “There’s a lot less going on. There’s a lot less stress or chaos.

“I’m more just coming here, doing my practice, playing the match. Like there’s not much else to it whereas in 2022 I was in a big rush.

“Would I be able to play? Would I not? And then last year obviously missing it and in 2021, I lost in a Brit Tour like a month before so I was not really feeling amazing.

As well as showing support for the England team, Raducanu carried a customised Christian Dior tote bagCredit: Getty
The 2021 US Open winner is glad to finally be back at Wimbledon having missed the 2023 edition through injuryCredit: Getty

“So I think that this is the most settled I’ve been in a while.”

Arriving to practice on Sunday, Raducanu wore an England kit to show her support for the Three Lions against Slovakia.

Walking through the All-England club she carried a personalised Christian Dior bag bearing her first name.

That was not the only withdrawal on the first Monday of Wimbledon with Aryna Sabalenka pulling out of the tournament.

The number three seed has a shoulder injury and is now out. Erika Andreeva replaces her in the draw.

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