EMMA RADUCANU survived the heat of Wimbledon’s hottest opening day – but almost got wiped out by a stray champagne cork.
Mimi Xu, a South Wales schoolgirl, was sent back to the classroom she lost 6-3 6-3 to the former US Open champion on her debut.
Emma Raducanu cruised into the second round[/caption]
Rookie schoolgirl Mimi Xu was sent back to the classroom[/caption]
This was not quite the schooling that many had expected, given the gulf in class, age and experience because Xu, 17, performed admirably on her rookie appearance.
Yet Raducanu’s supremacy, particularly when it came to serving, saw her advance comfortably to round two and she showed no signs of any back problems that had plagued her summer plans.
In fact, the biggest challenge she faced was evading a cork that flew out of a champagne bottle and on to No.1 Court turf.
This happened after Raducanu had taken the first set and she comically offered it back to the culprit in the crowd.
Champagne tennis from the British No.1 will have to wait for another day but this was an encouraging start to her campaign.
It was a sticky 31.7 degrees in south-west London by the time Raducanu began her eleventh singles appearance at Wimbledon.
This arena brings back uncomfortable memories as it was here that she suffered an anxiety attack in her debut year in the last 16 against Australian Ajla Tomljanovic.
Back then, she was an unknown teenager, thrust into the spotlight of Wimbledon while in the middle of her A Levels.
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A few months later she passed her biggest exam of them all, winning the US Open in historic fashion and becoming a global superstar.
Xu is in a similar situation to the pre-famous Raducanu verison from that early part of 2021.
Earlier this month, the Swansea star sat her biology A Level and when she came out of the room, she discovered she had received a All England Club wildcard.
The pair both have Chinese parentage – Raducanu speaks to Xu’s mum in Mandarin.
And Xu is coached by Nigel Sears, who was in Raducanu’s box four years ago.
They even dress the same, with similar Nike white clothes, golf visor and hair in a ponytail – though Xu had green underwear on – and celebrated key points in identical manner.
After breaking the Xu serve inside two minutes, Raducanu was instructed by coach Mark Petchey to get her racquet restrung backstage.
That break proved decisive as she moved one-nil up after 36 minutes and then dominated the second set to win her fourth match on grass this month.
The next match will be against Marketa Vondrousova, the 2023 Wimbledon champion from the Czech Republic, and that will be a far harder proposition.
Provided they can both stay clear of champagne corks that is.
Post-match, Raducanu said: “I’m super pleased to have come through that match. It’s so difficult playing another Brit in the first round, when the draw came out.
“I can’t say I was loving it. Mimi is a really dangerous player. She’s so young. Got some amazing weapons at her disposal.
“I am really happy to have come through that and I want to thank everyone for their support on both sides. It was a really nice atmosphere.
“Sometimes it’s difficult (to find rhythm) in the moment with nerves and adrenaline, you don’t have an idea of what is going on. I think I had some really good patches.
“And some moments where I lost my focus and Mimi was able to come back.
“I’m really happy with how I toughed it out in the really crucial games and won the important points today.
“Well, I’m glad people were having fun today. I mean I saw a champagne cork fly on to the court – glad you guys are having a good time. Cheers to you.
“It’s really nice to be back and I just use it as support. I love it. I love playing in this atmosphere. It’s my favourite tournament by far. I’m just so happy to get another match here.”
