David Beckham had the best seat in the house for Emma Raducanu's Wimbledon return on Monday. The English football legend and his mother Sandra enjoyed a front-row spot in the Royal Box to watch Raducanu defeat Mexican lucky loser Renata Zarazua 7-6(0), 6-3 on Centre Court.
Raducanu will face Belgium's Elise Mertens in the second round on Wednesday.
Wimbledon 2024: Scores | Draws | Order of play
Beckham has been a frequent visitor at Wimbledon over the last years, frequently accompanying his sons to take in a day of tennis.
Raducanu wasn't the only British success story on Day 1. No.148 Lily Miyazaki, 28, won her first Wimbledon main-draw match by defeating Germany's Tamara Korpatsch 6-2, 6-1. This is Miyazaki's third Grand Slam main-draw appearance. She will face Rothesay International champion Daria Kasatkina next.
Beckham wasn't the only British legend in the Centre Court stands. Sir David Attenborough received a standing ovation as he took his seat before the match.
A wonderful moment on Centre Court as the crowd rises for Sir David Attenborough 💚#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/AtcwfoPHwm
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 1, 2024
More from Wimbledon:
- Photo Gallery: Practice makes perfect at Wimbledon
- Grass-court Power Rankings: Who thrives on the turf?
- Is grass-court tennis the trickest surface on the tour?
- Milestones and feel-good stories from the grass season so far
- Get to know the players who are making their Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon
- Familiar faces: Barty, Sharapova return to Wimbledon with their sons
- After five years away from Wimbledon, Osaka returns hungrier than ever
- Rankings watch: Kasatkina, Shnaider get a bump
