Emma Raducanu ‘ready to go’ ahead of Centre Court debut at Wimbledon

Emma Raducanu declared herself fit and and "ready to go" as she prepares to make her Centre Court debut at Wimbledon on Monday.

The Briton, 19, has been in a race against time to be fit for the third Grand Slam of the year after sustaining a side strain in Nottingham earlier this month.

“I think that this week was a good build-up. Definitely there were moments earlier on in the week we weren’t really sure. We were sort of going to see how the week goes. But it went pretty well," the world No 11 told reporters.

“And now it’s full steam ahead. Everyone’s really looking forward to it. We’re all ready. Right now I’m fit. I’m ready to go.”

Raducanu, bidding to become the first British woman to win Wimbledon since Virginia Wade in 1977, sparked alarm by pulling out of a scheduled second practice session on Friday against Garbine Muguruza on Court One but she sort to play down the significance, saying: “We just had to react to the situation.

“I already practised in the morning. So we all collectively thought it was the best decision to pass on the afternoon session.”

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Raducanu’s return to Wimbledon - she reached the last 16 at the All England Club 12 months ago before withdrawing from her match against Ajla Tomljanovic because of breathing difficulties - caps a whirlwind first year on tour. The teenager has gone from a largely unknown wild card fresh out of school to a global star who won the 2021 US Open without dropping a set.

Her clash with Belgium's Alison van Uytvanck on Monday will be her first experience of playing on Centre Court, with the attention and expectation enormous.

Raducanu, though, is determined to embrace everything that comes her way

“This year I get such a special feeling