Top seed Aryna Sabalenka slammed the door on a gutsy challenge from Emma Raducanu, who looked for a few games like she might be on track for a famous upset.
Sabalenka won 7-6, 6-4, which was testimony to how close Raducanu pushed her. In the end, it was another gallant near miss from the long history of such British tennis narratives. But no one could watch this match and not salute Raducanu for the intensity of her effort.
The margins in the early part of this match were vanishingly small, as Raducanu served for the first set at 6-5 only to be pegged back by three magnificent winners from Sabalenka.
The fans were treated to some rich entertainment under the translucent Centre Court roof. The enclosed arena only amplified the enormous – and frankly ridiculous – shrieks that Sabalenka generates every time she strikes the ball.
The umpires should really call her for hindrance at some stage, because the volume of the cries only escalates at the most important moments in matches. Like a 1980s video nasty, she takes screaming to extremes.
But there was an upside for Raducanu as well, in that the roof also magnified the wild support she received from the Centre Court crowd. This wasn’t quite up there with Heather Watson v Serena Williams from 2015 – the loudest match most Wimbledon sages can remember, which was also played late on a Friday night. But it was close.
The buzz around the court highlighted the quietness of the automated “Out” calls from Hawk-Eye, with both players and spectators often having to look at the umpire or the scoreboard on close calls.
Some sort of clearer visual indication should probably be introduced, in the absence of a line judge to make the universally recognised signals: arm out wide for “Out” and palms down for “In”.
There were a lot of close calls in this match, because the standard was extremely high. Sabalenka had a significant advantage in power, with her serve reaching a top speed – 121mph – which would place her somewhere in the middle of the men’s field. But Raducanu is such a crafty tactician, particularly on this surface, that she was able to harry her taller and stronger opponent like a magpie pecking away at a falcon.
One particular tactic employed by Raducanu was the ball in behind Sabalenka as she recovered back towards the middle of the baseline. Rather than playing to the open court, and allowing Sabalenka to run on to the ball freely, this made her stop and turn in what was often a heavy-footed manner.
We can hardly describe the world No 1 as an articulated lorry, because she wouldn’t win many tournaments if we could. But Transit van might be fair enough.
Raducanu came roaring back in set two. Some of her shot-making in this period was imperious. In her player box, her coach Mark Petchey and her agent Jill Smoller were up and down like marionettes whenever she hit a winner. Ironically, Smoller had sat in roughly the same spot 10 years ago for the Watson-Williams match, even if she was on the less popular side back then.
As in the first set, Sabalenka was sluggish early on, handing over some cheap misses. But again, as in the first set, she dialled in when things got real. At 1-4, she saved a break point that would have effectively confirmed the need for a decider, then broke back with some typically humongous hitting.
A four-game run took Sabalenka to 5-4 and saw a mass exodus from Centre Court as those same formerly engaged fans decided that they were better off dashing for the tube. It was now 10pm, and they had enjoyed a real humdinger.
The great secret of modern racket and string technology is that the harder you swing, the more safety margin you gain through the heavy application of topspin. And Sabalenka is an absolute Amazon, using that mighty wingspan and those toned muscles to achieve enormous racket-head speed.
The same misses that bedevilled her early in sets became hits when it mattered, because she committed so wholeheartedly to her ball strike. Raducanu’s brave harrying now became irrelevant as the falcon plunged in for the kill.
The match was Sabalenka’s by a 7-6, 6-4 scoreline, even if she did get nervy enough to send down a double-fault on her second match point.
10:33 PM BST
Defeat for Raducanu but plenty of positives
10:29 PM BST
What’s next for Raducanu?
A little break and then a switch to the hard courts when she plays at the Citi Open in Washington, which starts July 19.
10:26 PM BST
Raducanu on the Centre Court atmosphere
What an atmosphere. My ears are still hurting, honestly. It was super loud! Every time you were cheering her, I was trying to tell myself to just pretend that you were just cheering for me. I had goosebumps honestly, so thank you for the atmosphere.
I’ve had a lot of experience in the past, and especially recently, where I’ve just completely lost myself and I’ve not been able to play a point. Today I was just trying to keep telling myself to not make the same mistake. I just tried to stay calm and push myself to the limit.
10:22 PM BST
Sabalenka on Raducanu
She [Raducanu] played such incredible tennis and she pushed me really hard. To get this win, I had to fight for every point like crazy. I’m super happy with the win of course. I’m super happy to see her healthy and back on track. I’m pretty sure that she will be back in the top 10 soon.
Emma was playing incredible tennis once again. She was making me move a lot, serving well and playing great tennis from the baseline. I was just trying to stay focused and put as many balls as I could on her side. I just tried to put all of the pressure on her.
10:15 PM BST
Decent summation by Nick
Incredible effort by Sabalenka 👀 what a competitor ⚡️ props to Raducanu, one of the best matches of the championships
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) July 4, 2025
10:09 PM BST
WATCH: How Sabalenka claimed victory
SABALENKA SHINES ✨
The world No.1 beats Emma Raducanu 7-6(6), 6-4 in a thrilling Centre Court battle#Wimbledonpic.twitter.com/CFrWZd6NBN
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 4, 2025
10:03 PM BST
Raducanu 6-7 (6-8), 4-6 Sabalenka*
Ambitious forehand return up the line from Raducanu is wide. Sabalenka moves to within two points of victory with a backhand winner down the line, 30-0.
Too good from Sabalenka as she finds the baseline with a forehand and Raducanu can’t get the ball back. Three match points.
Sabalenka squanders the first. Double fault Sabalenka. One match point left. Raducanu return into the net. GAME SET MATCH SABALENKA!!!
09:58 PM BST
Raducanu* 6-7 (6-8), 4-5 Sabalenka
Good lob by Sabalenka, Raducanu stretches to meet it and sends her effort into the tramlines. Raducanu then hits a forehand wide and is in big trouble at 0-30.
Backhand into the net from Raducanu and it is three break points for Sabalenka. Raducanu saves the first. But Sabalenka gets the break when Raducanu nets a backhand.
Looks like Raducanu has just ran out of steam. Sabalenka will serve for the match next.
09:55 PM BST
Raducanu 6-7 (6-8), 4-4 Sabalenka*
Sabalenka cruises to 40-0 before hitting a woeful volley long. But she holds when Raducanu sends a forehand long and we are back level.
In Raducanu’s player box, her coach Mark Petchey and her agent Jill Smoller have been up and down like marionettes whenever she hits a winner.
Ironically, Smoller had sat in roughly the same spot ten years ago on the middle Friday night, when Heather Watson drew similar crowd excitement while playing Serena Williams. She’s probably enjoying being on the side of the home fans this time.
09:51 PM BST
Raducanu* 6-7 (6-8), 4-3 Sabalenka
Frustration for Sabalenka after netting a mid-court forehand. Very annoyed with herself. Raducanu won’t care though as she moves to 40-15. Raducanu forehand into the net keeps Sabalenka alive in this game.
Another Sabalenka drop shot, Raducanu gets there but can’t get the ball over the net, deuce. Sabalenka cross court forehand winner, break point.
Saved by Raducanu with a forehand winner back behind Sabalenka. Not another 13-minute service game please Emma!!
Raducanu forehand into the tramlines, second break point. Sabalenka backhand return down the line, Raducanu gets there but flicks her forehand long.
Sabalenka breaks.
09:44 PM BST
Raducanu 6-7 (6-8), 4-2 Sabalenka*
Raducanu is all over Sabalenka. Back-to-back winners move her to 0-30. Good response by Sabalenka as she finds two first serves.
Sabalenka drop shot, Raducanu hunts it down, Sabalenka forehand pass but Raducanu meets it for a volley winner, break point.
Raducanu forehand long, deuce. More first serves from Sabalenka and she comes through a very tough game.
09:38 PM BST
Raducanu* 6-7 (6-8), 4-1 Sabalenka
Back comes Sabalenka. She gets to 0-30 when Raducanu nets a forehand down the line. Good play by Raducanu to drag Sabalenka across the baseline and force the forehand error. Sabalenka backhand return is well long, 30-all.
Raducanu first serve catches the white line chalk and Sabalenka blasts her return long, 40-30.
Raducanu in attack mode, going big into Sabalenka’s backhand with her approach to the net and finishing the game with a volley winner.
09:33 PM BST
Raducanu 6-7 (6-8), 3-1 Sabalenka*
Door opens for Raducanu after a wild forehand by Sabalenka, 15-30. Blocked return by Raducanu and Sabalenka dumps a backhand into the net. Raducanu goes after Sabalenka’s second serve and the Belarusian nets a forehand.
Raducanu breaks.
09:28 PM BST
Raducanu* 6-7 (6-8), 2-1 Sabalenka
Kudos to Raducanu. She has shaken off the disappointment from the tiebreak and is playing patient and composed tennis. Her serve is helping her immensely and she holds to 15 to move ahead.
09:25 PM BST
Raducanu 6-7 (6-8), 1-1 Sabalenka*
The beauty of having such a powerful game is that you don’t expect the drop shots from Sabalenka. It has been a good tactic for her in this match and she holds to 30 to level the set.
09:22 PM BST
Second set: Raducanu* 6-7 (6-8), 1-0 Sabalenka
Raducanu cannot afford to be too despondent. Sabalenka raised her level under great pressure like a world No 1 should.
Plenty of positives to take and she shows no ill-effects, holding serve to 15.
09:20 PM BST
First set verdict
Raducanu has brought the best out of Sabalenka there. An amazing 74-minute first set but the top seed held firm. The three winners back to back at the start of the 5-6 game when Raducanu served for the set. The drop-shot winner when set point down. And then the brave net rush on set point up. Too good.
Raducanu will never play a better set of tennis and still lose it. Psychologically, that feels like a crushing blow. For an hour and 14 minutes she has gone toe-to-toe with the best.
09:17 PM BST
Raducanu 6-7 (6-8) Sabalenka – TIE-BREAK
Defensive lob by Raducanu goes long, 6-7. Raducanu forehand pass, Sabalenka stretches and hits a deft drop volley, 6-8.
What a set of tennis.
09:14 PM BST
Raducanu 6-6 (6-6) Sabalenka – TIE-BREAK
Sabalenka volley winner, 3-4. Sabalenka dumps a backhand into the net, 4-4. The two women go toe-to-toe in a forehand cross-court battle and Sabalenka takes it with a forehand winner, 4-5.
Big return by Sabalenka, she gets an easy drive forehand but sends it wide, 5-5. Sabalenka forehand return into the net, 6-5.
Sabalenka drop shot winner, 6-6. Wow. That was gutsy.
09:09 PM BST
Raducanu 6-6 (3-3) Sabalenka – TIE-BREAK
Sabalenka overhead smash winner, 0-1. Raducanu ace, 1-1. Raducanu backhand up the line goes long, 1-2. Raducanu goes back behind Sabalenka and is successful with a forehand winner, 2-2.
Raducanu backhand return up the line is just wide, 2-3. Sabalenka forehand long, 3-3.
09:05 PM BST
Raducanu* 6-6 Sabalenka
Here we go then. Raducanu serving for the set. Expect Sabalenka to come out all guns blazing and she starts with a forehand winner.
Backhand down the line winner by Sabalenka, 0-30. Sabalenka drop shot, Raducanu chases up to it and scoops a shot deep but Sabalenka lifts a lob over her head. Three break points.
Raducanu saves the first. Then the second when Sabalenka puts a backhand into the tramlines. Raducanu forehand long. Sabalenka breaks.
Tie-break time.
09:00 PM BST
Raducanu 6-5 Sabalenka*
Brilliant start by Raducanu as she drills a backhand up the line. The atmosphere is incredible.
RADUCANU BACKHAND DOWN THE LINE WINNER. 0-30. Sabalenka drop shot, Raducanu chases after it and slips. Sabalenka flicks the ball into the open court. Raducanu takes a while to get back up. But she does. Dusts herself off and gets ready.
Sabalenka backhand long. Two break points. Huge slice of fortune for Sabalenka as her backhand clips the net cord and drops on Raducanu’s side, 30-40.
Sabalenka backhand long. RADUCANU BREAKS.
Quite a lot has happened since the last sitdown. Thirteen minutes and ten seconds for that last service game from Raducanu. The slip over and brief application of ice to the glute. Then the break with the backhand winners. It’s a noticeable tactic that Raducanu is consistently looking to go back behind Sabalenka rather than playing to the open court.
08:55 PM BST
Raducanu* 5-5 Sabalenka
Dangerous times for Raducanu as the game moves to 30-all after a Sabalenka forehand winner. Groans from the crowd as Raducanu nets a forehand, set point Sabalenka.
Bang. Timely ace down the T from Raducanu. Deuce. Sabalenka stretches Raducanu wide and the Briton sends a forehand long. Second set point. Saved again with an unreturned first serve.
Sabalenka goes back behind Raducanu with a forehand and the ball goes for a winner. Third set point. Third time saved after another Raducanu first serve in.
Raducanu nets a backhand. Fourth time lucky for Sabalenka? No. Another first serve in and another return into the net.
Oh no. Double fault Raducanu. Fifth set point… Sabalenka backhand into the tramlines. Relief for Raducanu. For now…
Deep return by Sabalenka and Raducanu’s forehand reply is into the tramlines. Sixth set point… Second serve this time and Sabalenka makes another return error.
All out attack from Sabalenka and Raducanu nets a forehand. Seventh set point. Sabalenka backhand return long. Wow.
Raducanu forehand winner. Can she finally get out of this game? No she can’t. Raducanu attempts a drop shot and gets it all wrong. Back to deuce.
Sabalenka forehand into the tramlines. Sabalenka backhand long. RADUCANU SURVIVES!!!
If Raducanu gets through this set, we’ll be talking about the magnificent seven – all those set points saved.
08:40 PM BST
Raducanu 4-5 Sabalenka*
All of a sudden, Raducanu is overhitting. The controlled aggression from the early games has disappeared and that plays right into the hands of Sabalenka.
A service hold to 15 for Sabalenka and now Raducanu will be serving to stay in the set.
After Raducanu held to consolidate the break, a run of 12 of 14 points for Sabalenka. The new balls arrived, and the air-conditioning has kicked in. This may explain why Raducanu kept firing long – maybe six or seven times. She changed her racket for tighter strings and sent another off for a restring.
08:37 PM BST
Raducanu* 4-4 Sabalenka
Trouble for Raducanu as Sabalenka gets to 0-30 with a backhand winner down the line. Raducanu then slices a backhand long and it’s three break points.
Blocked return by Sabalenka and Raducanu hits a wild forehand long. Sabalenka breaks.
08:33 PM BST
Raducanu 4-3 Sabalenka*
When in trouble, Sabalenka will always blast her way out of it. She holds serve here to 15 and strides purposefully to her chair.
“You saw it out as well, right?” said Raducanu to the chair umpire after the second point of that game. Like Jack Draper yesterday, she doesn’t seem wholly convinced by Hawk-Eye’s accuracy.
So far, so magnificent from Raducanu. Just needs to keep it going for another hour now…
08:30 PM BST
Raducanu* 4-2 Sabalenka
Raducanu is flying right now. Some of her best tennis all year. She’s mixing it up well, handling the pace from Sabalenka comfortably and serving brilliantly.
Good hustle from Raducanu after Sabalenka had the upper hand and the world No 1 misses down the line, 40-15. Another first serve in play and Raducanu consolidates the break.
Serious noise in here! Raducanu is getting a standing ovation for a break of serve! From a British perspective, Sabalenka is just the sort of tennis baddie to wind this crowd up. Huge serves. Huge shrieks.
08:25 PM BST
‘How long Raducanu can keep pace’
Sabalenka never looks like she is enjoying herself much, even when winning. There is obvious potential for her irritation to grow as the crowd explodes each time she misses.
The question is how long Raducanu can keep pace to keep the spectators engaged and thus weaponised. It’s been an encouraging start given her recent results against top ten players.
08:24 PM BST
Raducanu 3-2 Sabalenka*
Nice drop shot by Raducanu but she fails to follow it in and Sabalenka gets up to it and produces a drop shot of her own for a winner, 30-15. Raducanu continuing to do a good job of keeping the ball in play and letting Sabalenka make the mistake.
Raducanu forehand winner up the line, break point. Sabalenka responds with a 118mph ace down the T.
Sabalenka hammers down another 118mph first serve, this time Raducanu gets it back in play and Sabalenka’s backhand is wide. Second break point. Saved again, this time with a Sabalenka volley winner.
Sabalenka forehand into the net, third break point. 121mph serve by Sabalenka, Raducanu blocks it and the rally begins. Sabalenka tries to be the aggressor but nets a backhand. Centre Court erupts.
Raducanu breaks.
08:18 PM BST
‘Some monster serving from Sabalenka’
Some monster serving from Sabalenka so far, who is up around 120mph. It’s a figure that would be respectable in the men’s draw. The crowd are making some noise early, cheering Sabalenka’s frequent groundstroke errors.
The closed roof will only amplify the sound.
08:17 PM BST
Raducanu* 2-2 Sabalenka
Impeccable serving display from Raducanu so far. Hitting her spots and Sabalenka seems a bit unsure. First love hold of the match goes to the British No 1.
08:14 PM BST
Raducanu 1-2 Sabalenka*
The problem with playing Sabalenka is thinking you have to hit the ball as hard as you can to stay with her. A couple of unforced errors from the Briton demonstrate that before Sabalenka holds with a cross-court backhand winner.
08:11 PM BST
Raducanu* 1-1 Sabalenka
Forehand winner back behind Sabalenka to start the game from Raducanu. She then double faults, perhaps thinking too much about her opponent’s return strengths.
First ace of the match for Raducanu moves her to 30-15 and she holds when Sabalenka’s blocked return is into the net.
Positive start from Raducanu!
08:08 PM BST
First set: Emma Raducanu 0-1 Aryna Sabalenka* (*denotes server)
How Raducanu deals with the power coming from Sabalenka will be very interesting. Better players than her have struggled. Raducanu needs to keep Sabalenka off balance, use her backhand slice and make her play one extra ball.
Good early signs from Raducanu that she is happy to go toe-to-toe from the baseline. And no better illustration of that than her forehand return winner that brings up a break point. Sabalenka sees out the danger with a 114mph serve down the T.
She follows that with a 118mph first serve down the T and finishes with a forehand winner.
08:02 PM BST
Here we go!
The warm-ups are complete. Gary Lineker is in the Royal Box. Centre Court is under the roof.
Sabalenka to serve first.
08:00 PM BST
Big moment for Raducanu
Raducanu is looking for her first career win over a World No 1; she is currently 0-3 after falling to Iga Swiatek on each of those occasions: quarters at 2022 Stuttgart, round of 16 at 2024 Indian Wells and quarters at 2024 Stuttgart.
But two of her three career Top 10 wins have been on grass: No 5 Jessica Pegula at 2024 Eastbourne, No 9 Maria Sakkari at 2024 Wimbledon and No 10 Emma Navarro at 2025 Miami.
07:56 PM BST
BREAKING
Unsurprisingly with the clock fast approaching 8pm, the decision has been made to close the Centre Court roof.
For me, this means advantage Sabalenka. With no variables like the wind to disrupt her, she can and will swing freely.
07:50 PM BST
Sign up to our Women’s Sport newsletter
07:37 PM BST
Raducanu aiming to cause huge upset
Good evening and welcome to coverage from Wimbledon where Emma Raducanu faces one of the toughest tests in tennis this evening.
If the British No 1 wants to reach the fourth round, she will need to defeat the world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
On Thursday afternoon, Raducanu was spotted with coach Mark Petchey observing Jannik Sinner’s warm-up session.
Raducanu, who has been making an effort to pay closer to attention to the skills of her fellow players, said: “I’m trying to learn by osmosis. He (Sinner) is so effortless when he hits the ball.”
On Wednesday, Raducanu was too strong for 2023 champion Marketa Vondrousova on Centre Court and seemed to revel in the occasion.
Raducanu admitted: “That was one of the best matches I’ve played in a long time.
“There’s no better feeling than winning here at Wimbledon, winning on Centre Court. It honestly makes everything worth it. You forget about everything, all the up and downs, mainly the downs, when you’re out there and you win. I just want to savour that one and enjoy it (because) it was really special.”
Of the top six seeds in the women’s draw, only Sabalenka remains which makes her the clear favourite to win Wimbledon for the first time. But she is well aware of the unique challenge awaiting her this evening.
“Emma is playing much better tennis since last year, I have to say,” Sabalenka said.
“She improved. You can see that she’s getting back on track. Also facing British (players) at Wimbledon, I’m not sure I prefer that.”
The pair have played once before, in Indian Wells last spring, when Sabalenka won in straight sets. Sabalenka is arguably the biggest ball striker in the women’s game and Raducanu says she will have to mix up her game to win.
“I definitely think playing Aryna, she’s number one in the world for a reason,” she said.
“You can’t really do nothing or give nothing balls to her. I’m going to have to be aggressive but pick my moments and not kind of be overly (aggressive). I think you can fall into that trap, too.
“I don’t think I’m going to go out there and out-power her. I think I’m going to have to try and be creative, as well.”
O que achou dessa notícia? Deixe um comentário abaixo e/ou compartilhe em suas redes sociais. Assim conseguiremos tornar o tênis cada vez mais popular!
Esta notícia foi originalmente publicada em:
Fonte original
Autor: