Like Emma Raducanu, I won my first Grand Slam as a teenager, so I know how she feels, although our backstories are certainly very different.
When I won the US Open at age 16, I was already in the top three or four in the world, beating the two leading players, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova.
As a player, you climb to a higher level of success: you settle in the lower tournaments first, then do well at WTA events, win a title there, then get comfortable at the Grand Slams and so on.
Like Emma Raducanu (right), Tracy Austin won her first Grand Slam as a teenager in 1979
You make jumps and Emma skipped about 10 levels in three weeks, from qualifying at a US Open to winning the whole thing, a big one!
She didn’t have the chance to make adjustments and settle on every level. For me, it was a process for months from saying, “OK, I’m still the underdog” to “OK, I’m a favorite.”
She started last year at Wimbledon outside the top 300, reached the fourth round and then had to retire after a set against Alja Tomljanovic.
But all that could not prepare her for the US Open.
Then there was the huge tidal wave of media, expressions of support and expectations that followed.
It’s a lot to take in for someone so young. Life changed very quickly for her.
A lot has changed for Raducanu since she won the US Open in a stunning way last September
When I got there, I would always be very strict about limiting the number of days I would give commercial approvals so that I could focus on training.
Winning a major is very rare in tennis, so what she’s had after that, with all those assignments and great fanfare, are all benefits of her achievement.
Emma will have all of Center Court cheering for her on Monday. As a player you hear it, there’s no way not to, so hopefully she can use the sound in a positive way.
One of Emma’s best assets is her focus – she is fully businesslike, focused and doesn’t seem to be distracted.
She’s had some time to adjust to being the US Open champion, but so many of her matches are now expected to win.
All eyes are on the 19-year-old and she has to feed on the crowd during her Center Court debut
Opponent Alison Van Uytvanck is number 46 in the world and has won Surbiton and a tournament in Italy. She has played a lot this grass court season.
This is one of the tougher first round opponents possible. When I think about which players are in shape on grass, Van Utyvanck is definitely one of them. Your best preparation for Wimbledon is to go deep into two or three grass tournaments, but it wasn’t to be for Emma, with her abdominal injury at Nottingham a few weeks ago.
That happens as an athlete and now she has to go out with a positive attitude. She was in shape during the clay court season but it will be a lot to take in as she has so little experience and yet has high expectations.
Alison Van Uytvanck is number 46 in the world and she is one of the more difficult opponents in the first round
But she’s 19 years old and I’ve been there. The best Emma can do is not read the papers!
For the British public: put yourself in her shoes, pretend this is your daughter or sister.
Emma has to block all outside expectations and clearly go out with her tactics.
The women’s draw has never been more open, despite Iga Swiatek being such a short prize for the crown.
The Polish woman has won six titles in a row, has not lost in four months and has won 35 games in a row – but when she entered Wimbledon she has not played a match on the lawn.
There are no dangerous floaters on the French Open champion’s side, making it a very useful draw.
Iga Swiatek has won six titles in a row, not lost in four months and won 35 matches
She is such a good athlete and remember that she won the junior tournament at Wimbledon in 2018.
But people forget how different the grass surface is.
If she had played – and won – a single grass tournament, she would be a favorite. So since she doesn’t have that, she’s still a favorite, but not as fringe.
There are players such as 2019 winner Simona Halep, who plays well despite a difficult first-round draw, or Coco Gauff, who reached the Roland Garros final and also looks comfortable on grass. There is also Petra Kvitova, who just won in Eastbourne.
Coco Gauff reached the final at Roland Garros and looks comfortable on grass too
Tunisian Ons Jabeur reached the quarters last year and won Berlin this year.
There isn’t one player I can point to to challenge Swiatek, but there will be several with a scream.
And that’s not even talking about Serena Williams!
Serena has a lucky draw – she avoided Swiatek and Jabeur – so that gives her time to build up her form over the first week and get some momentum.
On her side is the fact that she knows the surface as a seven-time winner!
The Brits should be really excited about Jack Draper, he’s incredible and I love his prospects. He’s only 20 years old and this is just the beginning – he doesn’t even come close to his ceiling.
He is very calm, has a large left serve and is comfortable at the net. His mentality alone is very professional and clearly motivated with a very good foundation. I saw him in Eastbourne last week and he beat some tough opponents.
And don’t judge Andy Murray! He has had some success on grass this season. As for the men in general, Novak Djokovic has won the tournament six times and, like Iga Swiatek, has a favorable draw in which he can build momentum despite a lack of lawn play this season.
Jack Draper is very calm, has a great left serve and is comfortable at the net
Matteo Berrettini looks good and I like Nick Kyrgios’ chances too. He could play against Stefanos Tsitsipas in the third round.
Djokovic was able to meet Hubert Hurkacz, the Pole who played so well last year.
I think Djokovic, Rafa Nadal and Berrettini are on top with a chance of winning and below that Kyrgios – if he can stay motivated for seven games – and maybe Tsitsipas or Marin Cilic. Carlos Alcaraz is an interesting prospect as he has not played grass games this season. Players who have not done so are vulnerable in the early rounds.
My friend Sue Barker is the best in the business. She does her job with class, elegance and ease.
So many presenters I’ve seen need a teleprompter and she just stands there all day but knows all the names and remembers their backstories. It will be her last Wimbledon at the BBC this year – she is such a champion and will be missed.
Tracy Austin was talking to Lewis Steele