Ons Jabeur is "living the dream" after recording an opening 6-1 6-3 win over Mirjam Bjorklund at Wimbledon on the day she became the world number two.
After reaching a career-high ranking of two in the world, 2021 quarter-finalist Jabeur served strongly and dominated from the baseline against Bjorklund, who made her debut at the grasscourt major this year.
Jabeur arrived in London having lifted a grasscourt title in Berlin two weeks back and was in an attacking mood in her first career meeting with the 23-year-old Swede on a cloudy day on Court One.
The Tunisian broke Bjorklund's serve three times to take the opening set and a single break was enough in the second for Jabeur to seal victory in 53 minutes.
Jabeur converted her first match point when Bjorklund sent a backhand long and she will next meet Katarzyna Kawa for a place in the third round.
The Polish qualifier was a 6-4 3-6 7-5 winner over Canada's Rebecca Marino.
"I'm honestly living the dream," Jabeur said after her victory. "I always wanted to achieve, always wanted to be in this level, always wanted to inspire players from my country, from my continent. It’s very important."
There it is, the @Ons_Jabeur drop shot 🤩#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/qKQJJ4JEp7
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 27, 2022
US Open champion Emma Raducanu lived up to her star billing on her first appearance on Centre Court by overcoming the awkward challenge of in-form Belgian Alison van Uytvanck 6-4 6-4.
Having come into the tournament on the back of a wretched run of injuries, and with barely any match practice on grass, it was an impressive display by the 19-year-old.
Van Uytvanck is ranked 46th in the world but has a liking for grass having won 12 of her 14 matches on the surface this year, including two second-tier titles.
Her low slice made things difficult for Raducanu, who took a while to work out how to deal with the lack of pace coming her way, but the Briton grew in confidence and, lifted by the home fans, was a deserved winner.
First Centre Court appearance. First Centre Court win.
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 27, 2022
A dream start for @EmmaRaducanu. #Wimbledon | #CentreCourt100 pic.twitter.com/NmjAO3lvy5
2018 champion Angelique Kerber won the first set in just 17 minutes on her way to a 6-0 7-5 win over Kristina Mladenovic, while second seed Anett Kontaveit beat American Bernarda Pera 7-5 6-1.
Seventh seed Danielle Collins was the biggest casualty of day one as she was beaten 5-7 6-4 6-4 by world number 66 Marie Bouzkova.
Brazil's Beatriz Haddad Maia was also a surprise loser as, having won warm-up events in Nottingham and Birmingham and finished runner-up in Eastbourne, the 23rd seed went down 6-4 4-6 6-2 to Kaja Juvan.
