Emma Raducanu said she had to “win the ugly way” as she sealed a 7-6 (7-0) 6-3 victory over lucky Mexican loser Renata Zarazua on her Wimbledon return.
Raducanu used her share of luck to claim victory on her return to the All England Club.
Raducanu was preparing to face 22nd seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, a powerful Russian who reached the fourth round here last year.
But Alexandrova withdrew due to illness on Monday morning, and instead Raducanu’s opponent was Zarazua, who had never won a circuit-level match on grass and was making her main draw debut here.
Zarazua, ranked 98th, has an unconventional game and made life very difficult for Raducanu in the first set, but the 21-year-old dug deep to secure victory and become the first British winner of the tournament.
“It was an incredibly tough match,” Raducanu said. “It took a lot of strength for him to cross the line. Bravo to her. In the morning, you are not in the draw and then you play on Center Court.
“It took me a little time to adapt and find my feet. I just want to thank everyone for the support. I’m incredibly happy to be back here, of course. I was nervous, for sure, I think people could see it in my tennis.
“Honestly, it’s like watching football last night, winning ugly… it all counts!”
David Beckham and Sir David Attenborough were among those watching from the Royal Box, and Raducanu made a statement of intent with a winning forehand return driven down the line on the first point.
But Zarazua was not about to be sent off the court, the diminutive 26-year-old using drop shots, lobs and chopped forehands to prevent Raducanu from getting into rhythm.
After saving a break point in the fourth game with a crosscourt backhand winner that exploded off the line, Raducanu took the lead in the next game, but gave the advantage back to Zarazua who made it 4- 4.
At the start of the tie-break, everyone was in the lead, but Raducanu, in great form, took the initiative from the start and did not lose a single point.
But it was not at all comfortable, with Raducanu saving two break points at 1-1 in the second set as she sought to find the balance between consistency and aggression.
The breakthrough came at 3-2 as Zarazua’s level dropped, and the 21-year-old was lucky to win the match with a second break.
She couldn’t take it but she served without nerves, setting up another match point with a brilliant forehand winner and a long backhand from Zarazua booked Raducanu into a second-round clash on Wednesday with Belgium’s Elise Mertens.
Raducanu will not want to take too big a lead but, with eighth seed Zheng Qinwen losing early and third seed Aryna Sabalenka withdrawing through injury, her section of the draw is wide open.
Lily Miyazaki reached the second round at Wimbledon for the first time after crushing Tamara Korpatsch
Joker Lily Miyazaki joined Raducanu in the next round after producing a superb performance to upset Tamara Korpatsch 6-2 6-1.
The Tokyo-born 28-year-old more than doubled her prize money for the year, earning £93,000 for less than an hour’s work.
A comprehensive win over the German world number 73 secured a second-round meeting with 14th seed Daria Kasatkina on Wednesday.
Watson beaten by his doubles partner
Heather Watson was beaten in straight sets by her doubles partner Greet Minnen
Heather Watson’s 14th Wimbledon campaign lasted just an hour and 40 minutes after she was beaten in three sets by doubles partner Greet Minnen.
Watson, a wild card after slipping to 199th in the rankings, was the first British player in action on day one.
But the 32-year-old was also the first to go after a 7-5 6-4 defeat to the Belgian world number 80.
After trailing 4-1 in the first set, Watson won four straight games to serve at 5-4.
The service failed her, however, and Minnen continued to move forward while Watson was chastised by her mother, Michelle, for being “too lazy to move her feet.”
“She knows a lot about tennis,” Watson said. “I’m very grateful to have him, his support, his knowledge.
“Yeah, she might not be the best tactically, but I would say she’s incredible at making sure I’m registered for all my tournaments and all my logistics.”
The second set was played on serve until a double fault brought match point to Minnen, who then sent the former British number one packing.
“I didn’t really feel my game well today,” Watson added. “I didn’t serve or hit a lot of backhand because of a back injury. However, the last few days I’ve been training really well.
“But in tennis, it’s just such tiny margins and such fine details that can make a big difference. I just couldn’t find the court.”
A broom thrown aside by Stan The Man
Charles Broom was pushed aside by Stan Wawrinka
Charles Broom’s Wimbledon debut ended in a three-set loss to three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka.
Broom, from St Albans, earned a wild card by reaching the Challenger Tour final in Nottingham last month and the outcome could have been different had he managed to win the second set.
But he tightened up at the wrong time and Wawrinka cruised to a 6-3 7-5 6-4 victory in an hour and 49 minutes, becoming the 10th man in the Open Era to win a singles match here at 39 years or more.
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