The 19-year-old had barely put back-to-back wins together since her shock triumph in New York, being plagued by injuries and a bout of COVID-19.

She had won 10 matches in nine months since winning 10 straight to triumph from qualifying at Flushing Meadows.

Then Raducanu came into Wimbledon hampered by a side strain that meant this was only her seventh professional match on grass.

That made Alison van Uytvanck a far tougher proposition than a world No.46 ranking suggested, not least as the Belgian had won 12 of 14 matches on the surface this year, including two second-tier titles.

It was not just the crowd who were nervous, Raducanu herself began tentatively. But 101 minutes later she was literally jumping for joy, and they were cheering joyfully, after the No.10 seed completed a 6-4 6-4 victory in the first round on Monday.

"It wasn't relief, it was just happiness. To play on Centre Court and get a win first time, it's amazing," said Raducanu, who first came to notice when reaching the fourth round as an unknown wildcard in SW19 last year.

"Now every time I go back, I'm just going to have a great first experience. That always helps.

"It's an incredibly special feeling to be back at Wimbledon. I felt the support the minute I walked out and walking around the grounds."

There has not been a Wimbledon British women's champion since Virginia Wade in 1977 - and precious few genuine contenders.

That brings a burden of expectation but Raducanu said: "Big matches and big occasions are the ones I get the most fired up for. I love playing on the big stages, I really thrive on that.".

Raducanu strode into her post-match press conference wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with Rafael Nadal's bull horns logo and said she was taking inspiration from the veteran's form this season.

"Rafa just embodies fight, that sort of energy," said Raducanu, who meets France's Caroline Garcia in the second round.

"That's what I'm bringing in. I think that I have had a tough year, it's no secret. It is all worth it just to go out on Centre Court and get a win like that."

Australian Associated Press