Year of hurt never stopped me dreaming

RELAXED RADUCANU READY TO BE PART OF GLORIOUS SUMMER

- Neil McLeman

EMMA ready RADUCANU is for a normal Wimbledon with "less stress or chaos" - but she also wants to play her part in an extraordinary fortnight in British sport.

The Bromley-based star, now 21, first made headlines when she reached the fourth round here in 2021, just weeks after taking her A-levels.

The following year, as the reigning US Open champion, Raducanu won her race to shake off a side strain before playing her first two matches on Centre Court.

Now, after missing last year's tournament following operations, she is back for only her seventh match at the All England Club against Russian No.22 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, right, this afternoon.

Raducanu insists she is in a "good place" because she is physically fit, working with her childhood coach again, and without the frenzied expectation that was put on her after her shock Grand Slam success in New York three years ago.