Raducanu beats a Wimbledon champion, next she faces the world's best player
The 22-year-old Brit meets World Number One Aryna Sabalenka next.
Can the 2021 US Open champions defy the odds yet again?
The day Carlos Alcaraz became a man at Wimbledon Emma Raducanu has faced several agonising spells on the sidelines. Photo by CLIVE BRUNSKILL via AFP
Emma Raducanu's career hasn't been conventional. She's only ever won a single title, and that was a Grand Slam crown at the 2021 US Open. She did so through the back route as a qualifier and didn't drop a single set in the main draw. She was ranked as high as 10th in the world by the WTA in 2022, but injuries and inconsistency have seen her slide down the rankings and outside the top 200. Now, she's steadily climbing again and back at number 40. News of her pairing up with back-to-back Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz for the upcoming US Open mixed doubles event has made most of the headlines, but Raducanu looked superb for long spells against Vondrousova on centre court.
World Number One Aryna Sabalenka is a formidable sight for any opponent. In her post-match interview following her second-round win over 2023 Wimbledon champ Marketa Vondrousova, Raducanu pointed out that there's no pressure on her against Sabalenka, since she's the rank outsider. 27-year-old Sabalenka spent some time in Greece licking her wounds after losing the Roland Garros final to Coco Gauff, her second defeat to the American in a major showpiece after the 2023 US Open final. Sabalenka is the only one of the top five seeds still in the tournament, with Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Jasmine Paolini, and Qinwen Zheng all eliminated. Sabalenka's best showings at Wimbledon have been semi-final berths in 2021 and 2023. Raducanu went to the fourth round in 2021 and 2024.
Meanwhile, Raducanu's clash with three-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka is set for Friday, 04 July.
Let us know by leaving a comment below or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Also, subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
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