It’s 44 years since a British woman won Wimbledon but in Emma Raducanu we may just have uncovered the next home-grown star

Wimbledon

  • Wildcard beats 2019 French Open finalist Marketa Vondrousova
  • Skupski brothers earn first win since Kens blood clot

In the 44 years since Virginia Wade became the most recent British woman to win Wimbledon, there have been many excellent performances from outstanding prospects at the All England Club. Not all of them have gone on to have big careers but in Emma Raducanu, we may just have uncovered the genuine article.
The 18-year-old players 6-2, 6-4 victory against the world No 42 Marketa Vondrousova, the Czech who reached the French Open final in 2019, was a display full of poise, Raducanu showing she has the head to match her talent as she reached the third round.
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Born in Canada to a Romanian father and Chinese mother, the Raducanu family moved to Britain when she was two. A top junior, she received a wildcard into the main draw this year. Having defeated the world No 150 Vitalia Diatchenko in round one, she took her game to a new level altogether as she beat the left-handed Vondrousova, a win that will move her up more than 100 places from her current ranking of No 338.
An excellent athlete and superb ball-striker, what was perhaps more impressive was that she did not panic when she trailed 3-0 in the second set, storming back for victory, taking in the fans roars around Court 12. Her reward is a meeting with Romanias Sorana Cirstea, who beat Victoria Azarenka in a high-quality three-setter. On the evidence of Raducanus first two wins, anything is possible.
Being someone who has not been able to compete much and who has always been held back by something, to be at the Championships I feel like I am on a holiday, she said afterwards. It is unbelievable and I just want to stay here for as long as I can.
Playing in front of a home crowd definitely helps. The support is so loud and they are so behind me. I am really grateful so I have that in the back of my mind. Also I was just thinking to play every point like it was my last and like it was match point or my last point at Wimbledon. I think that is also a trick I have been playing with myself.
Sorana Cirstea will facce Emma Raducanu in the next round after the Romanians win over Victoria Azarenka. Photograph: Rob Prange/Shutterstock
Jamie Murray begins his quest for a first Wimbledon mens doubles title on Friday but many of the countrys finest exponents of the format were in action on Thursday, with mixed fortunes.
There was always guaranteed to be one set of British winners, as Ken and Neal Skupski took on Liam Broady and Ryan Peniston in the first round, and it was the experienced brothers who advanced with a 6-4, 6-3 victory. It was a first victory for the Liverpoolborn pair since Ken suffered a blood clot shortly after they won their third title together, in Acapulco in March. Broady admitted he and Peniston had been outplayed.
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It was obviously a bit disappointing today but Ken and Neal are seasoned pros, Broady said. They know what theyre doing and I wouldnt be surprised if they go a long way here. I hope they do because theyre both great guys.
It was the end of a good week for Broady, who beat Marco Cecchinato of Italy in the first round of the singles and took a set off the world No 11, Diego Schwartzman, in round two before going down in four sets.
On my singles, I guess Ive got to see it as a success, even though I won one and lost one, he said. Its a learning experience, and you cant help but learn. Thats how Ive stepped up a bit this year, learning from everything around.
Heather Watson, who will again be reprising her 2016 title-winning partnership with Henri Kontinen in the mixed doubles, joined forces with Harriet Dart to beat Kaia Kanepi and Shuai Zhang in the first round of the womens doubles.
However, there were defeats for Naomi Broady and Jodie Burrage as well as Tara Moore and Eden Silva, while Luke Johnson and Anton Matusevich lost out to Alex de Minaur and Matt Reid.
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