Emma Raducanu eased into the fourth round of Wimbledon with a straight sets victory over ninth seed Maria Sakkari.
The Brit, 21, conjured memories of her stunning US Open win as he produced a hugely impressive performance on Centre Court, winning 6-2 6-3 against her experienced Greek opponent.
It is just the second time in her career she has reached the second week at Wimbledon.
The last time she did so was in 2021, when she had to retire with breathing difficulties during a fourth-round clash with Ajla Tomljanovic.
Later that year, she went on to achieve a stunning US Open triumph – becoming the first qualifier, man or woman, to win a grand slam title and the first British woman to win a grand slam title since Virginia Wade’s Wimbledon victory in 1977.
Having struggled with injuries since her breakthrough year – undergoing three surgeries in 2023 – Raducanu is now showing her supreme talent once again.
She had not beaten a top-10 player in her career up until last month, but has now done it twice in a fortnight.
Having beaten Jessica Pegula in Eastbourne, she was simply too good for Sakkari.
Next up for Raducanu is a fourth round showdown with qualifier Lulu Sun, while this victory was enough to ensure her place back in the top 100.
Raducanu said: “I think today was really up there with the most fun I’ve had on a tennis court.
“I was just telling myself how many times in your life do you get the opportunity to play in front of a full Centre Court so I’m really grateful for the support.”
Raducani played down the parallels between this fortnight and New York after swatting aside Elise Mertens in the last round, but there certainly are some, not least the fact she arrived here feeling confident and with plenty of wins under her belt.
Over the last month she has reached her first grass-court semi-final in Nottingham and then beat a top-10 player for the first time, seeing off Jessica Pegula in Eastbourne.
Sakkari pointed out in a rather prickly fashion ahead of the contest that it is she rather than Raducanu who has been among the best players in the world for the last three years.
But she has also struggled at the grand slams since making the last four in New York and came into Wimbledon having won just one match in her last five major tournaments.
An error-strewn first game from the Greek, who has never been beyond the third round here, gave Raducanu an immediate break of serve, while the big difference between the two was their handling of the big points.
Raducanu was exceptional, saving five break points across three games in the first set, one with an ace and another a searing forehand down the line.
She had Sakkari at 0-40 in the fifth game without managing to break but found the cushion she was looking for when an Andy Murray-esque lob landed on the baseline to give her a 5-2 lead.
Sakkari had two more chances in the next game but again Raducanu was rock solid, and there was an air of real excitement around Centre Court when she secured another break to lead 2-1 in the second set.
Errors were flowing again from the racket of a frustrated Sakkari, who vented in exasperation at her support box as Raducanu survived another close game, saving two more break points, one with a second-serve ace.
Sakkari saved two match points serving at 3-5 but sent a forehand wide on the third to leave Raducanu grinning in delight.
News Summary:
- Emma Raducanu swats aside ninth seed to fuel hopes she could be serious Wimbledon contender
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