Wimbledon 2024 Women’s Day 1

Wimbledon was hit by injury withdrawals from a pair of women’s Grand Slam champions on Monday’s opening day, with third seed Aryna Sabalenka and No. 16 Victoria Azarenka both pulling the plug.

The women from Belarus have each twice won Australian Open titles; both are suffering with shoulder injuries.

Sabalenka gave notice of her likely absence at the weekend, saying she looked 50-50 for her start; she cited the physical problem which has bothered her for several weeks.

Azaranka dropped her surprise notice in late afternoon before her first-round match and was replaced in the draw by Elsa Jacquemot of France.

Wild card Emma Raducanu pleased home fans with a 7-6 (0), 6-3 defeat of  Renata Zarazua, a Mexican qualifier ranked 149, who replaced injured original opponent Ekaterina Alexandrova in the draw.

Raducanu, who missed Wimbledon a year ago as she recovered from wrist  and knee surgery,  

She said the quick-change of opponents was complex to deal with.

“I only found out this morning, we had been planning for the original opponent,” the winner said. “It took a bit of adjusting and finding my feet.

I watched the (Euro) football last night – winning ugly (by England) but it still counts.

Emma Raducanu training at Wimbledon in an England Football shirt

“I was nervous today, you could see it in my tennis. But you have to do what it takes to get over the line.”

Wrapping up victory proved to be a challenge, with Zarazua saving a match point in the penultimate game before Raducanu completed her job a game later on her second winning chance after nearly two hours on court.

Roland Garros finalist and seventh seed Jasmine Paolini got away to a winning start with her 7-5, 6-4 domination of Sara Sorribes Tormo.

The smiling Italian Paris runner-up finally won a first-round match here after losing her previous three. She also won a grass match for the first time last week in Eastbourne and eventually reached the semis. 

“(Playing on grass) is a different tennis, but I’m enjoying,” she said.

“Today was a good match, but I have to raise up a little bit the level for the next match because it’s going to be tough.

“I’m just trying to play as better as possible. It’s not easy because it’s a completely different surface. We play just two, three weeks per year. So, yeah, but I try to adapt. So let’s see.”

Wild card Naomi Osaka, who last won a match here in 2018, stepped onto a Wimbledon court for the first time since 2019 and reached the second round 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 over France’s Diane Parry.

The 14th seed, Daria Kasatkina, followed up on her weekend Eastbourne title by crushing China’s hang Shuai with the loss of ust three games to reach the second round in 74 minutes.

Heather Watson took the first loss for the host country only a few hours into the start of the fortnight, going out to Belgian Greet Minnen 7-5, 6-4.

New Zealand qualifier Lulu Sun, playing in her first Grand Slam main draw, stunned Australian Open finalist Zheng Quinwen 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.

Main photo:-Emma Raducanu celebrates as she wins first round match – by Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd