Emma Raducanu works her spell on Maria Sakkari to continue stunning Wimbledon run
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When Emma Raducanu hit a backhand lob while running on Centre Court at Wimbledon, the crowd was silent, waiting to see where the ball would land. Raducanu was playing against Maria Sakkari, the ninth seed from Greece, and she was taking risks on break points to stay ahead. This particular defensive lob seemed impossible to reach, but when it landed inside the baseline, the crowd went wild. This moment captured Raducanu's incredible 6-2 6-3 victory and showed that she is bringing the excitement of New York to Wimbledon.
She's also having a great time, and as Raducanu reached the fourth round of Wimbledon for the first time since her breakthrough in 2021, there were clear similarities to her US Open win. Firstly, her opponent Sakkari had been defeated in the semi-finals when Raducanu won the grand slam as a wildcard at 18 years old. Now, three years later, Raducanu showcased the same boldness on Centre Court, with exciting possibilities on the horizon. This Sunday, she will compete against Lulu Sun from New Zealand, ranked 123rd in the world, for a spot in the quarter-finals.
“I had a blast on the tennis court today, it was one of the most enjoyable experiences I've had. I loved every moment,” Raducanu shared. “I am particularly proud of my focus and determination throughout the match. Maria [Sakkari] is a top 10 player, so I knew I had to give it my all. She is a tough opponent with great skills, so I had to be prepared to fight. I did my best to stay focused and not let the score affect me. I approached each point as if it was the most important one.”
For the second time in her short career, Raducanu once again showed her dominance over Sakkari in a match that required courage during crucial moments. Despite both players having equal chances in the first set, Sakkari had even more opportunities in the second set. However, the 21-year-old Raducanu was incredibly effective with her serves and precise with her returns. She managed to save all seven break points she faced by delivering powerful first serves and hitting forehand winners. Despite the pressure from the crowd, Raducanu confidently maintained her leads in both sets and played with ease on her returns. The audience at Centre Court thoroughly enjoyed her performance.
After a strong victory over Elise Mertens in the second round, Raducanu's request to play under the roof at SW19 was granted due to heavy rain. The sound of raindrops could be heard throughout the match. Raducanu faced off against Sakkari on Centre Court for a rematch, with the Greek player being ranked ninth in the world. Sakkari was the highest-ranked opponent Raducanu had defeated on her way to winning the US Open three years ago, which many considered to be her best performance. She dominated the match with a 6-1 6-4 victory, ultimately leading to her historic title. This match marked the first time they had played each other since then.
Both players tried to portray themselves as the less likely winner, with Raducanu noting she was facing a top-10 player and Sakkari stating that the grand slam champion and home player was the one to beat. However, just like in 2021, Raducanu managed to break Sakkari in her initial service game, setting the tone for the rest of the match. The Briton took control early on and prevented Sakkari from catching up. Despite being a strong player, Sakkari was frequently outmatched in crucial moments.
Similar to Mertens in the last match, Sakkari challenged Raducanu with her speed to showcase her offensive play. Although Sakkari had more power on her shots, she also had moments of inconsistency and made significant mistakes, leading to several tough losses in major tournaments. Despite her consistent top 10 rankings over the past two years, Sakkari had not been able to advance past the first week in any of her nine previous attempts at a major.
During the first game of the match, Sakkari lost her serve from a good position, making a double fault on a crucial point and missing a forehand shot. Despite facing pressure from her opponent, Raducanu responded confidently and managed to maintain her lead. At 3-2, Raducanu faced a challenging moment with a double fault and a missed shot, but she saved a break point with a powerful forehand winner down the line.
The situation for Sakkari was tense: a mistake on 30-30 gave Raducanu the opportunity to break her serve, and Raducanu's defensive play near the baseline resulted in the best shot of the match. When she managed to return a powerful forehand from Sakkari, Raducanu hit an impressive backhand from deep behind the baseline, landing it perfectly inside the line to the cheers of the crowd at Centre Court. Raducanu smiled and pumped her fist towards her supporters. She then confidently held her serve to win the set 6-2, saving two break points with an ace and a forehand winner. Raducanu remained calm under pressure and played positively when it mattered most.
The next game unfolded similarly, with the player maintaining an early advantage on serve and then quickly putting pressure on their opponent when returning. Just like in New York, they made two impressive backhand winners on the returns. This put their opponent on the defensive, leading to more mistakes and ultimately allowing the player to break serve and take the lead in the second set. Despite facing challenges during their own service games, the player managed to hit an ace on a break point to stay in front.
A great shot on the return gave Raducanu a chance to win the match against Sakkari's serve, but the Greek player saved it with a powerful shot. Raducanu didn't give up and took advantage of a double fault from Sakkari to get another opportunity. In the end, a missed forehand from Sakkari allowed Raducanu to advance to the fourth round with a grin. This exciting victory hints at something extraordinary happening at Wimbledon.
On the other hand, Sonay Kartal's strong performance at Wimbledon came to an end in the third round when she lost in straight sets to US Open champion Coco Gauff. Last year, Kartal only managed to win three games at the prestigious All England Club, but this time she put up a better fight against Gauff. She even managed to break the American's serve in the first set on Court One.
In the match, Kartal fought well in many extended exchanges, but Gauff ended up winning 6-4 6-0. Despite the loss, the British player can feel satisfied with her performance at Wimbledon, earning £143,000 in prize money and creating unforgettable memories.
