Wimbledon: Teenage wildcard Raducanu keeps home flag flying in women's singles

Raducanu, ranked 338th in the world, completely outplayed Marketa Vondrousova to win 6-2, 6-4 as she followed up her first-round victory the previous day over Vitalia Diatchenko.

Published : Jul 02, 2021 13:42 IST , LONDON

Britain's Emma Raducanu celebrates winning her second round match against Czech Republic's Marketa Vondrousova.
Britain's Emma Raducanu celebrates winning her second round match against Czech Republic's Marketa Vondrousova.
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Britain's Emma Raducanu celebrates winning her second round match against Czech Republic's Marketa Vondrousova.

British hopes in the Wimbledon women's singles were kept alive in unlikely fashion as 18-year-old wildcard Emma Raducanu shocked former French Open runner-up Marketa Vondrousova on Thursday to reach the third round on her debut.

Raducanu, ranked 338th in the world, completely outplayed her Czech opponent to win 6-2,6-4 as she followed up her first-round victory the previous day over Vitalia Diatchenko.

READ: Zverev eases past Sandgren into third round

The Canadian-born youngster, whose father is Romanian and mother Chinese, fell 3-0 down in the second set but calmly regained control to outclass a befuddled Vondrousova.

"I think playing in front of a home crowd definitely helps," Raducanu said.

"Also I was just thinking, play every point like it was my last point, like it was match point, it was my last point here at Wimbledon."

ALSO READ: WTA rules no Asian tournament swing due to COVID-19 restrictions

Judging by the way Raducanu has stepped up to the big stage, two months after completing her A-levels at school, this could be the first of many..

Next up for the Londoner is Romanian Sorana Cirstea who beat 12th seed Victoria Azarenka 7-6, 3-6, 6-4.

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