‘I played the occasion as well as the opponent’: The last British teenager to make Wimbledon’s second week on her debut has urged Emma Raducanu not to repeat her mistakes and enjoy the experience
- Debbie Jevans made the fourth round in 1979 and was beaten by Virginia Wade
- Jevans said she didn’t before the match against her compatriot and lost 6-1, 6-2
- Emma Raducanu beat Sorana Cirstea in straight sets to raise the roof on Court 1
- She now faces fellow unseeded player Alja Tomljanovic for a quarter-final place
- Jevans is sure that Raducanu will be on Centre Court next if she wins on Monday
The last British teenager to make Wimbledon‘s second week on her debut has urged Emma Raducanu to embrace the experience more than she did.
Debbie Jevans was 19 in 1979 when she played Virginia Wade in the fourth round, enduring a sleepless night followed by a defeat.
Jevans, who has gone on to become a high-profile administrator in UK sport, remained the youngest in the post-1968 Open era to make the last 16 until 18-year-old Raducanu emerged.
Debbie Jevans hopes Emma Raducanu can learn from her mistakes in 1979 and play freely
Emma Raducanu beat Sorana Cirstea to reach the fourth round of Wimbledon on Court 1
‘When I got to the last 16 it was to play Virginia Wade, who had won it two years before, so there was a lot of interest,’ she recalled yesterday.
‘There was plenty of discussion about which court we would be on and it was actually Court Two, which I thought would help me.
‘Emma is on Court One, she has already won on that and I am sure she would be on Centre if she wins.
‘There’s a lot ahead of her and whatever happens I am sure there will be lots more chances to play on Centre Court.
Fellow unseeded player Ajla Tomljanovic faces Raducanu on Monday for a spot in the last eight
‘She has seemed to feed brilliantly off the crowd and has fully embraced it. I was so nervous before my match against Virginia that I literally didn’t sleep at all on the Sunday. I played the occasion as well as the opponent.’
The result was a 6-1, 6-2 defeat. Jevans was to find more success in administration and has worked in the Olympics, rugby and football.
She is currently a non-executive director of the EFL and on Wimbledon’s main committee.