“Each match I win should be celebrated a lot,” Emma Raducanu emphasizes embracing hard-fought victories and joy of being part of Wimbledon

Raducanu will face Elise Mertens in the second round of the grass Major.

“Each match I win should be celebrated a lot,” Emma Raducanu emphasizes embracing hard-fought victories and joy of being part of Wimbledon

Emma Raducanu (Via Imago)

British youngster Emma Raducanu got her Wimbledon 2024 campaign underway with a thrilling performance in the first round. Despite starting the match slowly, she managed to register a straight-sets win against Renata Zarazua.

The 21-year-old had returned to action this year after recovering from ankle and wrist injuries and has since been looking to build her form. Luckily, she found some momentum at the start of the grass swing, with a semifinal finish in Nottingham and a quarterfinal run in Eastbourne.

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Ahead of her Wimbledon campaign, Raducanu had stated in a press conference that she would be over the moon if she managed to win the first round at SW19. After her win against Renata Zarazua, she admitted that she had no expectations at the tournament and hoped to enjoy every victory that came way.  

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I’m really just enjoying myself. I think each match I win should be celebrated a lot. For me, because I know how hard it is to win matches, how hard it is to come by. Now having a few wins under my belt, I’m really cherishing every single one because I know how difficult it is to be on the flip side of it.

Emma Raducanu said in a press conference

Emma Raducanu took inspiration from football to win her first match on Wimbledon return

At Wimbledon this year, Emma Raducanu was initially handed a tough start with a first-round clash against 22nd seed Ekaterina Alexandrova. However, the Russian had to pull out of the tournament due to illness and was replaced by lucky loser Renata Zarazua. 

Emma Raducanu
Emma Raducanu (Via Imago)

Despite playing shaky tennis, Raducanu managed to beat Zarazua 7-6(0), 6-3. Later, she compared her win with the English football team’s win at Euros 2024, where Jude Bellingham scored a last-minute goal against Slovakia to ensure his country didn’t exit the tournament early. The Briton stated that she used that result as motivation to win her Wimbledon opener. 

I have a feeling. Then Jude hit that insane goal. Today I used it as motivation. It doesn’t need to be beautiful, it doesn’t need to be perfect. 

Emma Raducanu said in her on-court interview

Raducanu will next face the experienced Elise Mertens. Luck has favored the Brit so far, with two big players in her side of the draw, Victoria Azarenka and Aryna Sabalenka, pulling out of the event.

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