Wimbledon: Emma Raducanu channels Rafael Nadal fire to win opener – ‘he just embodies fight’
- ‘I think Rafa embodies that sort of energy,’ Raducanu says when asked why she was Spaniard’s iconic ‘raging bull’ logo during practice
- British 10th seed, who has not won more than two matches at a tournament since her win at the US Open, will next take on France’s Caroline Garcia
Emma Raducanu said she was hoping to channel the fighting spirit of Rafael Nadal by wearing his “raging bull” logo after beating Alison van Uytvanck 6-4, 6-4 in the Wimbledon first round on Monday.
The 19-year-old US Open champion, who was an injury doubt in the run-up to the tournament, struggled to impose herself early in the contest but broke her Belgian opponent’s serve in the seventh game.
Van Uytvanck broke back but Raducanu again seized the initiative by breaking again and survived a tough test on her serve to take the first set 6-4.
The pair swapped breaks in the second set and Raducanu broke again in the ninth game, comfortably holding serve and sealing victory with a backhand volley to the delight of the crowd.
“It was an amazing experience on Centre Court,” said the British 10th seed.
“It was the first time I played on there. From the moment I walked out through those gates, I could really just feel the energy and the support and everyone was behind me from the word ‘go’.”
