Emma Raducanu’s spirited Wimbledon campaign came to an emotional end as she lost 7-6(8-6), 6-4 to world number one Aryna Sabalenka in a gripping third-round contest on Centre Court.
Despite the straight-set result, the match was anything but one-sided, lasting over two hours and showcasing the British star’s renewed confidence and form.
Raducanu, ranked 40th in the world, pushed Sabalenka to the limit, especially in a tense opening set that lasted 74 minutes. She served for the set at 6-5, held a set point in the tie-break, and led 4-1 in the second set with a break point to extend the lead. However, the Belarusian’s power and experience eventually proved decisive as she reeled off five straight games to seal victory.
ALSO READ:
- Coco Gauff wins first French Open title after stunning comeback against Sabalenka
- Coco Gauff ends Emma Raducanu’s Italian Open run with dominant fourth-round victory
- Coco Gauff beats Aryna Sabalenka to win US Open
- Djokovic hits 100th ATP singles title: Serbian legend claims historic win in Geneva showdown
“Hard to take”
After the match, a visibly emotional Raducanu admitted the defeat was “hard to take,” yet she acknowledged the positives. “I had chances in both sets. It gives me confidence even though it’s very difficult to take right now,” she said.
The 22-year-old showed her growing belief by breaking Sabalenka’s serve three times and saving seven set points in the first set alone.
The performance followed Raducanu’s stunning second-round victory over defending champion Marketa Vondrousova, one of her finest wins to date. Although she couldn’t repeat the upset, she earned praise from Sabalenka, who tipped her to re-enter the top 10 soon.
“She pushed me really hard. She’s playing much better, and mentally she’s healthy,” Sabalenka remarked.
Raducanu’s improvement has coincided with the short-term involvement of Mark Petchey, former coach of Andy Murray. She praised him as an “11 out of 10” influence, although their future partnership remains uncertain due to his broadcasting commitments.
Tags: Aryna Sabalenka, #Wimbledon2025, Emma Raducanu, Marketa Vondrousova, Mark Petchey.
