Raducanu manages expectations on return to deal with lucky loser

Few tennis players understand the importance of taking advantage of opportunities quite like Emma Raducanu.

- Tumaini Carayol

R Zarazúa 63

E Raducanu 76

Her 2021 US Open triumph, after all, was an exercise in rising spectacularly to the occasion as various factors fell in her favour. Her life has never been the same since.

With the last-minute withdrawal of her scheduled first-round opponent, the 22nd seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, the opening day of her third Wimbledon potentially presented another.

Raducanu walked on to Centre Court as the heavy favourite in her opening match, rather than the underdog, and although she struggled early on with the weight that comes with those expectations, the 21-year-old held firm to reach the second round with a 7-6 (0), 6-3 win against the lucky loser Renata Zarazúa.

During the draw ceremony on Friday, Raducanu had been handed quite a tough match against Alexandrova, a perennial top-30 player who thrives on grass. But yesterday morning the Russian withdrew because of illness. She was replaced by Zarazúa, a resourceful but underpowered 26-year-old Mexican player who had lost a tight three-set match in the final round of qualifying.

Although Raducanu was clearly a superior tennis player than her new opponent, there are significant challenges that come with a change of opponent on such short notice.