- Emma Raducanu [W] def. Vitalia Diatchenko [Q] 7-6(4) 6-0
- Next up is former French Open finalist Marketa Vondrousova
LONDON, UK – Emma Raducanu mounted an incredible fightback to book her spot in the second round.
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Emma Raducanu [W] def. Vitalia Diatchenko [Q] 7-6(4) 6-0
Having fallen twice in qualifying, it looked as though the main draw debut for wildcard Emma Raducanu would be short-lived. At 1-4 down, it appeared the match tightness of Russia’s Vitalia Diatchenko through qualifying was standing her in good stead.
Perhaps a little complacency started to creep in as Raducanu gradually worked her way back into the match. The 18-year-old has an aggressive game, and she backed herself as she whittled away the deficit saving two set points in the process before nudging the first set into a tie-break.
From that point, it looked like one-way traffic for Raducanu as she swiftly built up a 6-3 lead, taking the set on her second set point. Diatchenko did not exactly capitulate, putting up a long fight and four break-points in the fourth game, but finally succumbing on the fifth and by the time she was serving to stay in the match, the end was quick with Raducanu breaking her to love.
She said, after the match: “I’m just really pleased to be into the second round. I feel like I’m playing and everything is just a bonus to me right now. I’m just really enjoying myself, just taking the moment in really. The support I had today was quite incredible. They definitely pushed me through some of the tough moments.”
Raducanu v Marketa Vondrousova | H2H & Match Fundamentals
| Emma Raducanu [W] v Marketa Vondrousova | H2H: First Meeting |
| Wimbledon | London, UK |
| Grass (O) | Prize Money: £75,000 |
| Fourth on Court 18, not before 4:30pm BST | BBC Sport |
Tale of the Tape – Key Stats (2021 – Grass)
| H2H: | Emma Raducanu (WR 338) | Marketa Vondrousova (WR 42) |
| Tournament Previous Best | Qualifying (2018, 2019) | R1 (2017-2019) |
| 1st Serve Return Points Won % | 45.3 | 27.2 |
| Return Points Won % | 51.8 | 36 |
| Break Point Conversion % | 43.5 | 35 |
| Break Points Saved % | 54.4 | 71.4 |
| Total Points Won % | 52.3 | 47.6 |
This could be an intriguing match-up with Raducanu ahead on all stats except when it comes to saving break points, but this could be a lot closer that people might think.
Playing Styles & Prediction
Raducanu has already proved that she can go toe-to-toe with more experienced players wit her aggressive style but more so, she impressed today with a fighting spirit way beyond her 18 years. For both players now this is uncharted territory now in the second round, but of the two, Vondrousova knows what it feels like to advance in a Slam.
She moves well and is also a powerful ball-striker, but it is the drop shot that has often been devastating to ger opponents, so Raducanu will need to be prepared. Vondrousova probably has a little too much experience and even variety over the teenage Brit, but after her comeback in the first round, expect her to make this challenging.
Vondrousova in three sets.
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