Image source, Getty Images
- Author, Bobbie Jackson
- Role, BBC Sport journalist
Emma Raducanu has vowed to “put it on the line” on Wednesday when she faces Belgium’s Elise Mertens in round two at Wimbledon.
Raducanu, 21, skipped the clay-court French Open to focus on being fit and ready for the British grass season and, so far, that decision looks to have paid dividends.
The Briton reached the semi-finals of the Nottingham Open and followed that with a run to the quarter-finals at Eastbourne, including a win over American world number five Jessica Pegula.
She was scheduled to begin her Wimbledon campaign against 22nd seed Ekaterina Alexandrova but the Russian withdrew on Monday morning.
Instead, Raducanu went up against lucky loser Renata Zarazua and, having struggled through the first set, really found her rhythm in the second to reach round two with a 7-6 (7-0) 6-3 victory on Centre Court.
Raducanu has appeared at six Grand Slam events since lifting the US Open title in 2021 but has not managed to go beyond the second round.
“Results-wise I have no expectations,” said Raducanu, who has endured a tough couple of years with wrist and ankle injuries.
“I just have expectations of myself to really put myself on the line on the court and fight and not let any frustrations get to me.”
Raducanu is last up on Court One on Wednesday against 2018 Australian Open semi-finalist Mertens.
Who else is playing at Wimbledon on Wednesday?
Raducanu is one of three British hopes scheduled to feature in the women’s singles on Wednesday, with Lily Miyazaki and Sonay Kartal also in action.
British number four Miyazaki sealed her spot in round two just moments after Raducanu had wrapped up on Centre Court, beating Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch to claim her maiden victory in the Wimbledon main draw.
Japan-born Miyazaki, who moved to London aged 10, has been rewarded with a meeting against 14th seed Daria Kasatkina in the final match on court three.
Meanwhile, qualifier Kartal, 22, came through a tough encounter with 29th seed Sorana Cirstea and will face Clara Burel of France in the first match on court three.
First up on Centre Court is Russian fifth seed Daniil Medvedev when he takes on France’s Alexandre Muller.
Japan’s Naomi Osaka, who beat Diane Parry on Monday in her first appearance at Wimbledon since 2019, follows in a meeting with American 19th seed Emma Navarro.
World number one Jannik Sinner, who was a semi-finalist in 2023, is last up against fellow Italian Matteo Berrettini.
On Court One, American second seed Coco Gauff faces Romania’s Anca Alexia Todoni before Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz – the defending men’s champion – meets Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic.