Emma Raducanu admits greater experience brings pros and cons

As Emma Raducanu returns to the second round of Wimbledon a year on from her first big breakthrough, she is now, officially, in her second year around the sun as a tennis player. She is navigating the same locker rooms for a second time, facing many of the same opponents and, with her centre court debut complete, returning to the same courts.

She may still be extremely inexperienced, but her familiarity with the sport is growing, something she admits comes with positive and negative consequences. “I think that it helps just with experience. Every tournament or every match you play, you learn something. It helps it all be a positive tool for the future,” said Raducanu.

“I think in a way, when you haven’t played anyone before, it helps, too, because no one knows you, no one knows your game. That is something that I experienced in a positive way last summer because no one really knew who I was. Since, I think that people have definitely watched me and raised their level and raised their game and played some great tennis.”

The next opponent for Raducanu, Caroline Garcia, is one such example. When they face each other as the second match on Centre Court on Wednesday, there will be no surprises. The pair played in the second round of Indian Wells this year, with Raducanu edging out a win 6-1, 4-6, 6-1.

After her own 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (4) first-round win over Yuriko Miyazaki, Garcia hailed Raducanu as a “phenomenon” within the sport. “It has all happened in 12 months. From a player who was 350th to a worldwide phenomenon in every way,” she said. “Especially with the sponsors and everyone. Good luck to her. Her personality, her play is very attractive to everyone. I have just got to concentrate on the tennis. And how I can find a