Straight-sets victory eases Raducanu into fourth round

As Emma Raducanu hoisted up a backhand lob on the run that almost brushed the rafters on Centre Court, the Wimbledon crowd held their breath as the ball began its descent.

- JAMIE BRAIDWOOD

Raducanu had managed to strike first against Maria Sakkari, the Greek ninth seed, and was rewarded for her attacking intent on break points. This defensive lob, though, on the stretch, felt a step too far, but as it dropped inside the baseline and Centre Court erupted, it became the moment that encapsulated this stunning 6-2 6-3 win. Raducanu is bringing the magic of New York to SW19.

She is having fun, too, and as Raducanu returned to the fourth round of Wimbledon for the first time since her big breakthrough in 2021, there were clear parallels to that US Open title. For a start, her beaten opponent Sakkari had been vanquished in the semi-finals as Raducanu captured that sensational grand slam triumph as an 18-year-old wildcard. Three years on, Raducanu brought the same fearlessness to Centre Court, and now similar possibilities are opening up ahead. On Sunday, she will face Lulu Sun from New Zealand, the world 123, for a place in the quarter-finals.

"I think today was really up there with the most fun I have had on a tennis court, I really enjoyed every single moment," Raducanu said. "I'm most proud of how focused and determined I was in every single point, in every single moment. Maria [Sakkari] is a top 10 opponent. In a way, I came in with a free swing. But she is so tough, she has amazing weapons, I knew I had to battle. I tried to not let the scoreline affect me. You just have to play every point like it could be your last."