Raducanu loosens up amid party vibe and bundles out Xu

"Come on Britain!" echoed through the sweltering 32C heat on No 1 Court as Emma Raducanu defeated Mimi Xu in straight sets.

- Yara El-Shaboury

The all-British clash featured two players - attired similarly in matching outfits and golf visors - who captivated the home crowd.

While Raducanu has been a fan favourite since her fairytale 2021 US Open triumph, the grand slam debutant Xu, ranked No 300 in the world, has impressed in junior circuits and shown significant promise on the senior tour.

"It was an interesting dynamic today," Raducanu said. "It is really awkward playing a Brit, especially someone younger. I think the crowd were great both ways and it was nice for [Xu] to receive that sort of welcome and support."

The celebratory mood of two Britons facing off led to some fans popping a champagne bottle, with the cork landing on the court in front of the world No 40. "It was a first. Pretty entertaining, though. I am glad [the crowd] were having a good time. It kind of loosened me up a bit. But I couldn't reach it [to have a sip]."