Centre Court awaits: US Open winner Emma Raducanu, 19, returns to action at Wimbledon following whirlwind year since her SW19 debut – after being helped by her childhood coach in wake of injury scare
- British No 1 will make Centre Court debut in opener against Alison Van Uytvanck
- Raducanu was forced to retire from the Nottingham Open earlier this month
- Has said she is ready for Centre Court and will relish the loud backing of fans
US Open winner Emma Raducanu has arrived at Wimbledon today as she prepares to make her big comeback after a string of injury scares.
The British No 1, who was seen sheltering under an umbrella wearing a Rafael Nadal t-shirt, will make her Centre Court debut in a tough opener against Belgian Alison Van Uytvanck.
Now without a permanent coach, Raducanu has been seen training at Wimbledon with Jane O’Donoghue – who played a prominent role in her development between the ages of 13 and 17.
Emma Raducanu waves to onlookers as she arrives at Wimbledon on day one of the Championships
Raducanu was forced to retire from the Nottingham Open earlier this month after said she felt pain in her left side from the moment she served in her first round match against Viktorija Golubic.
She took painkillers and was laid out flat on court for treatment during two change of ends, later declaring that she would seek a scan – which left her involvement at Wimbledon hanging in the balance.
However, the Brit has reassured fans that she will be able to take on Van Uytvanck after completing a solid training session on Saturday.
And she said she will be ready for centre court, telling reporters: ‘Everyone out there wants me to do well and are behind me and they are going to be cheering.’
Sir Andy Murray will follow her on to the show court today.
Meanwhile, Raducanu’s grandmother is unable to make the journey to Wimbledon from her apartment near the centre of Bucharest, Romania, because of fears over Covid.
But the retired teacher, who has never seen Emma, 19, play professionally in person, says she will not even be tuning in.
‘I won’t be able to get to England but I can’t watch her on TV either, my heart can’t take it,’ she told the Daily Mail. ‘It breaks my heart to see her pushing herself so much.
‘I feel for her when I see how much effort she has to put in and I get stressed. I don’t want to send her any negative energy, I want to put out only positive thoughts.’
Instead Mrs Raducanu watches the matches of potential opponents. ‘But I will be there for her in spirit,’ she added. ‘I encourage her all the time. I talked to her recently over video call. I told her, “God will help you do what you have to do”. I send her my best wishes.’
The British No 1, who was seen sheltering under an umbrella wearing a Rafael Nadal t-shirt, will make her Centre Court debut in a tough opener against Belgian Alison Van Uytvanck
The loving grandmother added: ‘If she won’t win now, I will also be there for her reassuring her that things will be better next time.
‘I am proud of what she has accomplished but she still needs to gather more strength.’
She is confident Emma’s Wimbledon will not end as it did a year ago when she retired with breathing difficulties in the fourth round. ‘Now she has a big medical team who check everything,’ Mrs Raducanu said. She has discussed Emma’s fitness with her son Ian – the star’s father – after the teenager pulled out of the Nottingham Open with a side strain. ‘He said it’s nothing serious. She is ready for Wimbledon,’ she said.
Emma has not seen her grandmother for almost three years because of lockdown and her schedule. ‘But we talk a lot…. and she sends me presents,’ added Mrs Raducanu.
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