CANU MBLEDO BELIEVE IT?

Emma ticks all the boxes to be first past the post

- MIKE WALTERS

AT the ballot box we got Starmer and on Centre Court Emma Raducanu served up an absolute stormer.

Britain’s former US Open champion swept to a landslide 6-2 6-3 victory over Greek No.9 seed Maria Sakkari to reach the fourth round at Wimbledon for the first time since 2021.

And she said: “This is some of the most fun I’ve ever had on a tennis court.”

If she keeps going for her shots with such conviction, Raducanu’s decision to skip the French Open in favour of an extended training block could yet be vindicated spectacularly.

With Hollywood deity Dustin Hoffman – Rain Man himself – in the Royal Box, play on outside courts may have been suspended by poor weather, but there were no issues for Raducanu under the All England Club roof.

Moving with more freedom than at any time since assorted injuries stalled her meteoric rise, she tuned into the patriotic support of a home crowd and looked the part.

Raducanu said: ”I really enjoyed every single moment.