Xu, 17, was understandably edgy. She had never really played in front of more than a few hundred people, never mind the 12,000 who turned up to watch her first ever grand slam match, which was also against Raducanu, a woman she has looked up to her whole career.
When battle was joined, she did break Xu’s serve in the opening game, but at the end of it her coach Mark Petchey called her over and she responded by sending that second racket off to the stringers and making do with a third in the meantime.
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“I just felt the rackets were flying a little bit. First couple shots in the warm-up, I was like, ‘This is just pinging’,” Raducanu said
“It was pretty lively out there.”
In his spare moments, he worked with Raducanu, reprising a partnership they had previously formed for a training block back in 2020. The informal arrangement worked well, and became a more formal one when he was signed up for the grass-court season.
“I think the most memorable moment… We’ve had quite a few.
Raducanu (left) and Petchey have quickly built a strong rapport (Photo: PA)
Raducanu will need to be much improved again when she takes on 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova in the second round on Wednesday.
“I played really good tennis. I remember I played one of the best matches I’ve played.
“I remember that was a big turning point for me. I’m looking forward, again, to have the opportunity to be in the second round.”
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Xu looked as though something similar, albeit not as medically serious, was happening to her as she was broken in an error-strewn opening game, but she insisted afterwards that it was the best experience of her life.
“I feel like it’s made me believe in myself, believe in my game that it’s there, that the good stuff is really there. It’s really good, but it’s just being able to do it more consistently.
“It’s really put belief in me, ignited a fire within me that I can do this, and I belong here.”
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