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Tennis fans erupt over detail in Emma Raducanu's Wimbledon outfit

Emma Raducanu, pictured here wearing a Rafa Nadal shirt to her post-match press conference at Wimbledon.
Emma Raducanu wore a Rafa Nadal shirt to her post-match press conference at Wimbledon. Image: Wimbledon/Getty

Emma Raducanu channelled her inner Rafa Nadal as she advanced to the second round at Wimbledon on Monday to the delight of her home crowd.

The 19-year-old US Open champion beat Alison Van Uytvanck 6-4 6-4 in the opening round despite failing to impose herself on the match.

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Raducanu came into Wimbledon with concerns over her fitness but broke her Belgian opponent's serve in the seventh game of the match.

Van Uytvanck broke back but Raducanu again seized the initiative by breaking again, and then survived a tough test on her serve to take the first set 6-4.

The pair swapped breaks in the second set and Raducanu broke again in the ninth game, comfortably holding serve and sealing victory with a backhand volley to the delight of the crowd.

However it was her actions in the post-match press conference that drew the most attention as she wore a polo shirt with Nadal's raging bull logo on the front.

She was also seen wearing a Nadal shirt on the practice court on Monday morning before her match.

Explaining why she chose to wear Nadal's shirt, the Brit said she is looking to learn from the 22-time grand slam champion, who has won the Australian Open and French Open so far this year.

"I think Rafa just embodies fight, that sort of energy," she said.

"That's what I'm bringing in. In terms of energy-wise, I think that I have had a tough year, like it's no secret.

"It is all worth it just to go out on Centre Court and get a win like that.

"I definitely am very happy to be here. All the lessons I've taken from the last year will only hold me in good stead for the future."

Fans were sent into a frenzy after spotting Raducanu in Nadal's shirt, however the reaction wasn't all positive.

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Raducanu, who has not won more than two matches at a tournament since her maiden grand slam triumph at the US Open last year, will take on France's Caroline Garcia in the second round.

She admitted her preparations for Wimbledon had not been ideal.

"I didn't play tennis for two weeks, then this week I've hit like an hour a day," she said.

"My preparation wasn't necessarily the greatest.

"But I know that when it comes to the matches, I feel like I really especially switch on. I don't feel like I need massive amount of preparation. Of course, I do to build physically.

"I think a lot of it is mental, and I definitely went out with the belief today.

"I know that I can compete with anyone on the other side of the court when I really go for it."

Emma Raducanu, pictured here in action against Alison Van Uytvanck at Wimbledon.
Emma Raducanu in action against Alison Van Uytvanck at Wimbledon. (Photo by Frey/TPN/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, new World No.2 Ons Jabeur recorded a commanding 6-1 6-3 victory over Swedish qualifier Mirjam Bjorklund to be the first big gun through to the second round.

Estonian third seed Anett Kontaveit followed suit, beating American Bernarda Pera 7-5 6-1.

Jabeur's win atoned for a shock first-round loss at the French Open to Magda Linette in her most recent grand slam outing.

"I don't like to make the mistake twice," Jabeur said.

"I learned a lot from the first round in Roland Garros. Obviously, everything feels different here. I feel, like, more ready."

The 27-year-old is the first African to reach as high as No.2 in the rankings and said she hopes to inspire more Arabs to play the sport.

with agencies

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