Emma Raducanu’s Sensational Wimbledon Comeback: Can Britain’s Breakout Star Capture Another Grand Slam?

Emma Raducanu steps back onto Centre Court tomorrow with a fresh sense of purpose—and a brand-new kit—after tournament officials asked her to tweak her attire in line with Wimbledon’s strict dress code. THE ROAD BACK TO WIMBLEDON Eighteen months of wrist and ankle rehabilitation have limited the 22-year-old Briton to just 14 WTA matches since her electrifying 2021 US Open triumph. A protected ranking has put her straight into the main draw, where she opens against 17-year-old Welsh wildcard Mimi Xu—another powerful baseliner who grew up idolising Raducanu’s New York run. MANAGING EXPECTATIONS—AND A NIGGLING BACK Raducanu insists she is “nowhere near favourite” this fortnight, citing an ongoing back spasm she has “learned to manage, not eliminate.” Even so, her camp reports practice-court ball-speeds close to 2021 levels, and the All England Club’s slower grass could buy her a split-second more recovery between strokes. TACTICAL TWEAKS UNDER NEW COACH DE-HAAN Since partnering with Dutch strategist Sven de Haan in March, Raducanu has shortened her service motion, added more kick, and emphasised first-strike tennis—an approach that produced a semifinal run on Eastbourne’s grass last week. De Haan’s scouting notes suggest Xu’s second serve sits under 95 mph; expect Raducanu to stand inside the baseline and pounce. OFF-COURT NOISE: BRAND POWER & RUMOUR CONTROL Away from the baseline, Raducanu’s commercial appeal shows no sign of fading. Endorsements with Porsche, Dior and Vodafone reportedly keep her net worth above £10 million, ranking her among Britain’s richest young athletes. Asked again about social-media speculation linking her to Carlos Alcaraz, she laughed: “We’re just good friends—next question, please!”—deftly turning focus back to tennis. KEY STAT: FIVE BRITISH WOMEN IN MAIN DRAW For the first time since 1984, Wimbledon fields five direct-entry British women—Raducanu, Katie Boulter, Jodie Burrage, Harriet Dart and Heather Watson—raising hopes of a deep home charge. A Raducanu-Boulter third-round clash looms if both progress. WHAT A SUCCESSFUL FORTNIGHT LOOKS LIKE • Reach second week: quiet lingering doubts about durability • Re-enter top-100, unlocking direct US Open entry • Re-establish on-court identity: aggressive returns, early ball-striking, fearless mentality BOTTOM LINE Ticket resale prices spike whenever Emma Raducanu’s name appears on the order of play. Whether she lifts the Venus Rosewater Dish this year or not, her return electrifies SW19, promises record TV ratings, and reminds the sport that marketing magic still meets genuine competitive grit in the Bromley native’s game.