"I had prepared very well for this match. Emma is very strong and she has already shown that she can play very well in major events. There, in addition, she was supported by the public", commented the Frenchwoman 28-year-old who had lost their previous and only meeting, in the spring in Indian Wells.

"I am French and I know what it is, when I play at Roland-Garros, to have the support of the public. It is normal that Emma was supported by the public. And besides, I am sorry for you...", she said, addressing the supporters of the young Briton before leaving the Center Court.

Garcia won the 8th title of his career last week in Bad Homburg and therefore lined up a seventh victory in a row on Wednesday, which had not happened to him since the 2019 grass season.

"You have to stay humble, tennis is a perpetual restart," said the Lyonnaise who had not won a match at Wimbledon since her round of 16 in 2017.

In the next round, she will face Chinese Shuai Zhang (41st) who, apart from a quarter-final in 2019, had never passed the first round at Wimbledon.

Against Raducanu, Garcia played very aggressively from the start.

From the start, she broke to lead 2-0.

But the 19-year-old Briton immediately picked up.

The Frenchwoman again took Raducanu's serve to lead 4-2 and this time she kept her advantage to pocket the first set.

Britain's Emma Raducanu during her second round match against Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia at Wimbledon, June 29, 2022 SEBASTIEN BOZON AFP

In the second, Raducanu managed to erase Garcia's first break, but the latter managed the decisive break to lead 4-3 and win the match on her first match point, on the Briton's serve.

© 2022 AFP