EMMA RADUCANU survived a Mexican standoff on Centre Court in front of former England captain David Beckham to ease into the Wimbledon second round.
Six hours before she played her first match here in two years, it was announced that Russian No.22 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova had withdrawn from the main draw due to illness.
In stepped lucky loser Renata Zarazua, who had been due to fly home to Mexico City but had to quickly find her racquet for this £60,000 first-round appearance on the biggest stage.
Florida-based Zarazua, 26, gave a good account of herself on her SW19 singles bow and was not overawed by the occasion.
But Raducanu, who wore an England football shirt to training, demonstrated her skills and resilience in front of football idol Becks in the Royal Box with a 7-6 6-3 triumph.
This was just her third appearance on the premier court of Wimbledon but she is expected to be back there on Wednesday for a clash with Belgian Elise Mertens.
Raducanu, who required a wildcard to make the field, pointed to her temple as if to say “stay focus and concentrate” as she enjoyed a whitewash of points in the first-set tie-break.
In the second set, as he faced a flurry of Zarazua drop shots, a break of serve in game six set her on the way to victory – her seventh success this summer on grass.
If she believes in omens then here is a good one to cling on to.
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When she won the 2021 US Open in New York – on her debut and as a qualifier – she beat a lucky loser in the first senior draw match.
Switzerland’s Stefanie Vogele replaced American Jennifer Brady at short notice and once Raducanu won her momentum propelled her to superstardom in the Big Apple.
She couldn’t storm to Wimbledon glory this fortnight, could she?
Well, stranger things have happened…
PRIZE MONEY for the 2024 Wimbledon Championships is a new record – and puts the grass-court Slam at the top of the tree.
The All England Club will dish out £50million across all the events – an increase of £5.3m and 11.9 per cent on last year, where singles champions Carlos Alcaraz and Marketa Vondrousova picked up £2.35m each.
However, the king and queen of grass this July will collect an extra £350,000 – taking the winner’s earnings to £2.7m.
Here is the breakdown for the 2024 Wimbledon singles prize money:
