Emma Raducanu Amused by Champagne Cork Incident During Wimbledon Opener
Emma Raducanu was all smiles after securing a straight-sets win in her Wimbledon first-round match, where she also encountered a humorous moment involving a stray champagne cork. The British tennis star cruised to a 6-3, 6-3 victory over wildcard Mingge Xu, but not before a cork unexpectedly landed in her service box early in the match.
The 22-year-old, who was featured on Centre Court as the highest-ranked British woman in the tournament, handled the light-hearted interruption with grace. She noticed the cork, picked it up, and tossed it back to the crowd.
Speaking afterward, Raducanu joked, “It’s great to see people enjoying themselves! I spotted a champagne cork fly onto the court—so cheers to whoever that was! I’m just so happy to be back here. The support means a lot, and playing in this environment is incredible. This is definitely my favourite tournament, so I’m thrilled to play another match here.”
Though the moment wasn’t caught on the broadcast, spectators inside the stadium witnessed the unexpected incident firsthand and chuckled along with Raducanu.
Strong Start, But Bigger Challenges Await
Raducanu’s return to the All England Club got off to a smooth start, but her next test will be significantly tougher. She is set to face defending champion Marketa Vondrousova in the second round.
Vondrousova, who recently claimed the title in Berlin and defeated McCartney Kessler in straight sets on Monday, arrives in strong form.
“She’s coming off a great run—won Berlin, a 500-level tournament—and beat some top players along the way. She’s also the reigning Wimbledon champion and just an excellent grass-court player. It’s definitely going to be a tough match. I’ll have to bring my best game to win,” Raducanu said of the upcoming showdown.
While Raducanu did defeat Vondrousova in the 2021 Wimbledon second round, the Czech has since won their last two encounters on clay and hard courts.
