Latest news with #EmmaRadacanu
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wimbledon 2025: No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka fights off Elise Mertens in straight sets, advances to quarterfinals
No. 1 women's seed Aryna Sabalenka has advanced to the Wimbledon quarterfinals after defeating No. 24 Elise Mertens in straight sets 6-4, 7-6. Sabalenka has not yet lost a set in her 2025 Wimbledon run, but she was challenged by Mertens and Emma Radacanu in her past two matches. Advertisement The world No. 1 initially looked as if she might overpower Mertens right off Centre Court, winning four of the first five games in the first set. But Mertens held serve against her former doubles partner and saved three break points on her way to tying the set at 4-4. Sabalenka then answered with a strong backhand winner to regain the advantage before firing a return to win the first set. Yet much like Radacanu did against Sabalenka in their third-round match on Friday, Mertens continued to battle as it appeared that the match might be lost. The Belgian may not have had the crowd on her side as enthusiastically as the British Radacanu, but support for her from the spectators at Centre Court grew louder as she refused to go down easily. Mertens fell behind 3-1 in the second set as Sabalenka dominated with her serve. But she finally broke Sabalenka before rallying to tie the set at 3-3, finally catching up to those rocket serves with quick backhands. However, just as Mertens appeared to gain some momentum, Sabalenka again asserted herself with her serve and went back on top 4-3. Then it was Mertens' turn to gain control with her serve. She fired three consecutive aces to hold, saving two break points. Sabalenka took a moment, walking to the back of the court to compose herself. That apparently provided the reset she needed as she took a 5-4 lead. Advertisement However, Mertens was able to hold serve to tie the set at 5-5 and forced a tiebreaker at 6-6, stirring the crowd to root for the women's favorite to play a third set. Mertens went ahead 3-2 in the tiebreaker when Sabalenka double-faulted. But Sabalenka bounced back to break Mertens' serve and win the next two points for a 4-3 lead. Yet instead of pressing the advantage, Sabalenka missed a simple volley that kept Mertens alive. That apparently awakened Sabalenka, who fired back volleys out of Mertens' reach to finally finish her off and win her third consecutive tiebreaker. Following the match, Sabalenka returned to a recurring theme, teasing the crowd for frequently supporting her opponent. 'First of all, guys, it feels so good to feel all the support, you know," she said with a smile in her on-court interview. "I feel like today I got you on my side, right? Thank you guys for the support.' Asked how she feels about moving closer to her first Wimbledon title, she took one last good-natured dig at the spectators that have often cheered against her at the All-England Tennis Club. Advertisement "With your support, guys, I think everything is possible," she said. With the victory, Sabalenka advances to her 11th Grand Slam quarterfinal. She will face unseeded Laura Siegemund, who moved to the next round by defeating Solana Sierra in straight sets 6-3, 6-2. The two will face each other for the first time on Tuesday.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Aussie seals huge career-first amid dramatic scenes for Wimbledon fan favourite
Australia's Jordan Thompson has defied a lingering back injury to book his spot in the Wimbledon fourth round for the first time. While women's World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka survived a huge scare against local hope Emma Radacanu, after a drama-charged 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 victory in the most eagerly anticipated match of the tournament to date. Thompson says he's still 'not anywhere near 100 per cent', despite booking his place in the last-16 at Wimbledon for the first time in his career, with a 6-4 6-4 3-6 6-3 victory over Italian Luciano Darderi. The Aussie battled through his back injury to record courageous five-set wins in his opening two matches, but looked more comfortable in the third round clash against Darderi. The victory sets up a mouthwatering last-16 showdown with in-form fifth seed Taylor Fritz, who Thompson beat on the grass at Queen's Club last year. The big-serving American defeated Spain's 26th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-4 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-1, and Thompson says there's no reason why he can't spring another huge upset against the World No.5. "It's a pathetic outlook if I go out there thinking I can't win," the Aussie said. "I won last time on grass, but very different grass, in different circumstances. So, you know, it'll be a new day. Fellow Aussies Alex de Minaur and Daria Kasatkina have the chance to join Thompson in the fourth round when they play later on Saturday night (AEST). The injury-plagued Thompson admitted before Wimbledon started that he was unsure whether he'd be able to compete because of his ongoing back issue. But the 31-year-old Sydneysider says it has improved as the tournament has gone on and filled him with confidence that he can keep his best-ever run going. "When I was warming up for the doubles yesterday, I was seriously questioning what I was doing out there, but I actually felt better as the day went on," he said. "And today was actually a lot better. Don't know why, but felt half-normal on the court. But to make my first Wimbledon fourth-round under the circumstances at the moment is incredible." RELATED: Wimbledon breaks 148-year rule after tragic death of star Alex de Minaur overcomes fiancee's heartbreak amid carnage Calls for change as 'dumb' Wimbledon tradition infuriates fans Among the other big names through in the men's draw are defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and Russian 14th seed Andrey Rublev, who will meet in the fourth round. Alcaraz kept his quest for a hat-trick of Wimbledon titles alive with a 6-1 3-6 6-3 6-4 win over big-serving German Jan-Lennard Struff, while Rublev eased past French veteran Adrian Mannarino 7-5 6-2 6-3. The most anticipated match of the day was left to last though and it didn't disappoint, with women's World No.1 Sabalenka surviving a huge scare against local favourite Raducanu 7-6 (8-6) 6-4. The atmosphere was electric around the packed Centre Court, with Raducanu riding a wave of home support to save seven set points and creating one of her own, only to lose an epic opening stanza to Sabalenka. Raducanu also led 4-1 in the second set before Sabalenka's class shone through and she recovered to set up a fourth-round clash with Elise Mertens. The World No.1 joined in the applause as Raducanu was cheered off court after the drama-charged two-hour showdown. It came after Australian Open champion and sixth seed Madison Keys became the latest big gun to fall, crashing out 6-3 6-3 against German veteran Laura Siegmund. The American became the fifth of the top-six seeds to be sent packing on an eventful day. Siegemund will next face Solana Sierra, who became the first woman 'lucky loser' to reach the fourth round at Wimbledon after beating Spain's Cristina Bucsa 7-5 1-6 6-1. Playing better than she has in years, great to see Emma Radacanu back in form at last. — regina kealy (@kealycopy) July 4, 2025 What a performance and what a fight. Pushed Aryna all the way and was so so close to getting either set but Sabalanka used her power in the most crucial points. She can be so incredibly proud of her 3 matches this year and can use this to push on. — Matt Smith (@MattSmith_44) July 4, 2025 She is a champion and I've no doubt that we'll see her winning grand slams again soon, hopefully Wimbledon next year. She did the country proud. 🇬🇧 — Simon Davis (@madvisions_pens) July 4, 2025 Considering her injuries and what she's been through, going toe to toe with the world number 1 like that is a huge step up. Time to build consistency and sharpness 💪🏻 — Younes H-Hamou (@youneshhamou_) July 4, 2025 with AAP
