Bromley’s finest Raducanu wins in straights set on Centre Court 7-6, 6-3

By Paul Lagan at Wimbledon
Centre Court

Zarazua (Mexico) v Raducanu (Bromley , South London)
7-6, 6-3

Bromley’s Emma Raducanu is safety into round two at Wimbledon with a straight sets victory over tenacious Mexican Renata Zarazua.
Raducanu won 7-6, 6-3 in just under two hours but it was a slog at times but class, power and not a little determination took the 21-year-old over the line.
Both opening serves went as expected although the length of rallies suggested that either it was going to be a long, long match or one of the players would blow themselves out.
Renata Zarazua showed wonderful ground strokes and tremendous ability to get the ball back over the net.
Raducanu, perhaps sensing she was the big British hope, started in uncertain fashion, but managed to show her undoubted class. A clipped drop-shot in the third game showed her versatility and quality.
In the fifth game at 2-2 Raducanu finally broke the serve of the Mexican. Powerful returns were too much and several smacks into the net by Zarazua gave the South Londoner the vital break.
A successful hold of serve piled the pressure on the Mexican, which she successfully came through.
Raducanu then played a pretty awful service game to be broken, allowing Zarazua to level at 4-4.
The poor form continued to leave the Mexican 5-4 up with Raducanu serving to stay in the set.
Despite some dubious shot selection, Raducanu managed to hold serve at 5-5.
Zarazua held serve meaning Raducanu needed to hold to stay in the set.
Sh went 40-15 up before hitting the net, but then Zarazua went long to take the set into a tie-break.
A mini break cheered the Raducanu fans in the crowd. A powerful serve made it 2-0, quickly followed by another net by Zarazua to make it 3-0. Then a powerful forehand down the line saw her opponent hit long, another long shot by the Mexican followd which made it 5-0 on Raducanu’s serves. And then it was 6-0 and set point.
A strong serve was returned wide and Raducanu took the first set with the perfect breaker.
Her forehand was an ally in the opening game and she used it to good effect, taking the game to 30.
Zarazua responded with some of he best play of the day, moving Raducanu around the court like a skilled puppeteer and she duly won her game to make it 1-1.
There were danger signals in Raducanu’s serve as she was close to being broken but she rallied literally to secure her game.
Zarazua did not have to work too hard to win her game and it was soon 2-2.
While not serving particularity well, Raducanu still managed to hold serve. A bird on the court which was soon moved on by the threat of Zarazua’s racket was a welcome distraction for the crowd who were sensing the pressure on the home player.
Just when she thought things might go against her, Raducanu broke Zarazua to 30 – taking a 4-2 lead with her serve to come.
Could she hold?
The answer was yes.
Raducanu had match point on Zarazua’s serve, but she held – eventually, leaving the Bromley girl to serve for the match.
A long rally saw her take the first point, soon it was 30-love. For the firt time in the match Raducanu replied successfully to a drop shot and it gave her match point, which she achieved in one hour and 56 minutes to send her into the second rund.

Picture top: Action from Centre Court Pictue by Paul Lagan