Raducanu brings the joy as she beats former champion

The last four years have been strange for Emma Raducanu.

- ALEX PATTLE AT WIMBLEDON

On one hand, she has long been trying to recapture the form of her breakthrough season, when she reached the fourth round at Wimbledon before sealing a stunning victory at the US Open. On the other hand, she has been trying to distance herself from that 2021 campaign, and the consensus among many in the tennis world is that the 22-year-old should not be held to those standards.

Yet it was difficult to put that captivating first appearance in SW19 out of the mind yesterday when the Briton stood across from Marketa Vondrousova in the second round - the same player she beat at the same stage, four years ago. It was even harder to cast aside memories of that dizzying summer when Raducanu achieved the same result.

This was also a refreshing throwback in that it was an occasion of jubilation, not consternation. For so long now, conversations about Raducanu have revolved around injury issues, inconsistencies with coaches, and sadly a stalker, more than anything else more than anything positive.

But this clash with Vondrousova was a cause to be positive. Not necessarily, for the sake of making the distinction, a cause to be hopeful, because the latter word can still be tied to the oppressive expectations that have long soured the experience of supporting Raducanu. Rather, this felt like a day to enjoy watching Raducanu play well, as she enjoyed her tennis.

On a day when rain delays meant a merciful respite from the scorching heat, this match was a merciful respite from what has become the Emma Raducanu Experience. This was a reminder of what the Emma Raducanu Experience can be.