- The 21-year-old was ruled out last year while recovering from surgeries.
- Raducanu described attending the event in 2023, but not playing, as “horrible”
- The former US Open champion has had a promising warm-up on grass this year
Emma Raducanu will play her first Wimbledon match on Center Court and return to her home Grand Slam for the first time in two years.
The 2021 US Open champion was unable to participate in the 2023 edition of the tournament as she was in the midst of recovering following surgeries on her ankle and both wrists performed two months earlier in a bid to shake off her persistent injury problems.
Instead, Raducanu attended the tournament as a brand ambassador for one of the event’s sponsors, Evian, and described the experience of being there without competing as “horrible.”
“I’m so grateful to be on the other side,” the 21-year-old said Friday. “Going to Wimbledon was really rubbing salt in the wound, but I guess it was part of my duties.”
“I’m very happy to be able to play,” she added.
Emma Raducanu hopes to start Wimbledon hot streak from Center Court on Monday
The 21-year-old attended the competition in a ‘horrible’ non-competitive capacity a year earlier.
This year, Raducanu will try to overcome 22nd seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in her tie.
Raducanu’s return to SW19 comes in some style as her first-round clash with 22nd seed Ekaterina Alexandrova will be the second match of the day on the main court.
Centre Court will host, as is tradition, defending men’s champion Carlos Alcaraz first, and the Spaniard will face qualifier Mark Lajal, who is ranked 269 places below third place.
The third and final match of the day will be an all-American affair between Caroline Dolehide and No. 2 seed Coco Gauff, with last year’s women’s champion Marketa Vondrusova set to begin her title defense on Centre Court on Tuesday afternoon.
Raducanu is one of six Britons who will take to the grass on the first day of the championship, along with Heather Watson, Liam Broady, Charles Broom and qualifier Sonay Kartal.
On Tuesday, 13 more will try to get through their first matches, making it the largest group of Britons in the first round of the competition since 1999.
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz (left) and No. 2 seed Coco Gauff (right) will also make first-round appearances on the main court.
Andy Murray will have an extra day to prepare as he attempts to make the singles on Tuesday.
The 2021 US Open champion has had a promising preparation for the tournament, including her first top-10 win.
Raducanu has enjoyed a consistent first grass-court season since returning from injury last year, reaching the semi-finals in Nottingham before defeat to eventual champion and British No. 1 Katie Boulter, and the quarter-finals in Eastbourne.
Before being eliminated by tournament winner Daria Kasatkina on the south coast, Raducanu defeated world No. 5 Jessica Pegula, earning her first career victory against a top-10 opponent.
“I had to deal with difficult circumstances overnight, so I had to get up and move on,” he said of his victory Wednesday. “I would prefer to keep those (circumstances) private, but it is a great message to anyone who thinks they can no longer move forward or fight for themselves.”
“Even if you think you’re depressed, there’s always a way. Will can help you through a lot of difficult situations.”