Adeshina shows class to skip class

Esther Adeshina submitted a good excuse for skipping her online masters class at the University of Tennessee late on Tuesday night. The British No.18 had earlier booked her place in the second round of Wimbledon Qualifying after the biggest win of her young career.

The 24-year-old knocked out Japanese No.8 seed Moyuka Uchijima 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 after one hour and 57 minutes of a rollercoaster encounter on Show Court 1.

After her opponent sent down a double fault on the second match point, the emotional world No.514 dropped her racket on to the turf and raised her arms in a heady mixture of triumph and amazement.

“I just honestly couldn't believe it,” she said. “I was so happy, kind of shocked, but the crowd was unbelievable. It was so nice to play in front of them, so amazing to have them backing me. It was just an overall great experience and my biggest win.”

Southampton-born Adeshina played NCAA tennis (the US college system) before graduating with a degree in Business Management from the Knoxville-based college in 2024. She then turned pro but has continued her studies with a master's in Supply Chain Management, which she is set to complete next year.

“I'm doing two classes a semester, five semesters, and the classes are actually every other week,” Adeshina explained. “We meet up online from 6-8pm Knoxville time. For me, it's 11pm-1am so I actually have class tonight at 11pm but I'm not going. I have an excuse not to go! It's a bit difficult with the timings during the programme, but it's a great opportunity for me.”

Adeshina attended Talbot Heath School in Bournemouth until she was 18. Unlike her contemporaries on the junior circuit Emma Raducanu and Sonay Kartal, she then opted to study and play in the USA.

“I learned so much about myself as a tennis player and as a person and I grew so much,” Adeshina said. “I think I would definitely recommend college to anyone that's thinking about it or not thinking about it. It makes you a tougher person, and you want it more.

“After college, I wanted to give myself a few years to just see where I could get to. Originally I actually wanted to just play doubles, but singles started going well so I'll just keep playing both and see how it goes.”

Adeshina, who is ranked world No.343 in doubles, gained belief she can succeed in singles with her first pro title at ITF W15 in Victoriaville, Canada in March. And she has already come through two rounds of pre-qualifying here.

She reckoned her experience playing in the southern USA helped in the un-English heat back home as Uchijima hit 30 winners but made 50 unforced errors.

“Playing college tennis in that environment really helped me out there,” Adeshina said. “I was just like, ‘Take it one point at a time, whatever I'm feeling, she's probably feeling too’.”

Fellow Brit Heather Watson also won her first-ever Wimbledon Qualifying match at the age of 34. The former British No.1 remains on course to make her 16th consecutive appearance in the main draw - having made her debut in 2010 - by beating No.21 seed Mayar Sherif 6-2, 6-2. After the Egyptian took an early medical timeout, Watson won seven consecutive games from 2-2 in the first set to take control of the last match of the day on Show Court 1. She took her fourth match point when a Sherif forehand found the net.

“This week has been a tough one just to get my head round it,” the 2016 Wimbledon mixed doubles champion admitted. “I have played Wimbledon so many times. I had a bit of nerves today. But the crowd was amazing. I hope they come back for my next match.”

Among other British players, Daniella Britton took the first set against Argentina’s Julia Riera before succumbing 2-6, 6-2, 6-4, and it was a similar story for Katy Dunne who lost 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 to No.15 seed Aliaksandra Sasnovich. Dutch No.27 seed Suzan Lamens saw off Amelia Rajecki 6-3, 7-5 while Lily Miyazaki lost 6-2, 6-4 to Elizara Yaneva of Bulgaria.

Canada's 2019 US Open winner Bianca Andreescu, who lost in the second round of Qualifying last year, won her opening match 6-4, 6-2 against Slovenia’s Polona Hercog. She will next face Jil Teichmann after the No.24 seed beat Rebekah Masarova 7-6(2), 6-4 in a Swiss derby. “I’m feeling good,” Andreescu said. “I’m ready for anything.”

US No.2 seed Ashlyn Krueger won 7-5, 7-5 against Gabriela Knutson of Czechia while No.3 seed Alina Korneeva celebrated her 19th birthday by beating Alexandra Shubladze 2-6, 7-6(2), 6-3.