Emma Raducanu takes on World No 9 quantity 9 at Wimbledon
Emma Raducanu is taking on world number nine Maria Sakkari in a hotly contested match up for a place in the fourth round of Wimbledon.
It is almost three years to the day since the British wildcard made her breakthrough run to the last 16 at SW19.
Raducanu, 21, will be looking to match that streak tonight as she takes on the Greek number one on Centre Court.
She is being watched by Hollywood legend Dustin Hoffman and his wife Lisa in the coveted Royal Box as well Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Raducanu’s match – which is being played under the roof – comes as her British rival Sonay Kartal faces the second seed Coco Gauff in her third round match.
Kartal, 22, who came through qualifying, had never won a match at a Grand Slam before her run this week.
Although the American is even younger than Kartal, she has a lot more experience, with Gauff having already won a Grand Slam.
Kartal and Raducanu have a long-standing rivalry going back to when they were children.
The pair would regularly play each other in the finals of national junior tournaments in the UK but Raducanu has since found it easier to break onto the pro tour.
Emma Raducanu during her third round match at Wimbledon on Friday night
Raducanu and Sakkari walk out for their third round encounter on Centre Court
Emma Raducanu in action against Maria Sakkari on day five of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships
Emma Raducanu is taking on world number nine Maria Sakkari in a hotly contested match up for a place in the fourth round of Wimbledon
It is almost three years to the day since the British wildcard made her breakthrough run to the last 16 at SW19
Raducanu waves to a jubilant crowd under the roof on Court One after her impressive victory against Mertens
Raducanu greets Mertens at the net after brushing her opponent aside in a rapid 6-1 6-2 victory
Raducanu in action against Mertens during their second round match
The 21-year-old lets out a triumphant roar after taking the first set 6-1 against her higher ranked Belgian opponent Elise Mertens
It is a late start for Raducanu after an epic five set thriller over almost four hours in the men’s singles with Carlos Alcaraz being forced to dig deep to defend his Wimbledon title against Frances Tiafoe.
The nation is pinning their hopes on the 21 year old made her return to the tournament this year after an injury-forced absence 12 months ago.
Her stunning Wimbledon debut in 2021 was was cruelly halted by breathing difficulties in her fourth round encounter against Australian Ajla Tomljanovic.
Raducanu and Sakkari have met just once before – in the semi-final of the 2021 US Open – when the Brit cruised to victory 6-1 6-4.
It was the win that placed Raducanu in her first ever grand slam final and from there she went onto lift the Flushing Meadows trophy.
The 21 year old goes into their second match up today having already come through two relatively straight forward games – she is also yet to drop a set.
In the first round she beat World No 98 Renata Zarazua from Mexico 7-6 6-3 after she clinched the first set in the tiebreak.
Raducanu then cruised past Belgian player Elise Mertens in the second round on Court One.
Speaking after the match against the Mexican opponent, Raducanu said: ‘I’m incredibly happy to be back here. I was for sure nervous, I think everyone could see that in my tennis.’
She added: ‘It’s amazing to play an opponent like Renata. It’s not every day when in the morning you’re not in the draw, and the afternoon you’re playing on Centre Court, so props to her.’
A Raducanu supporter waves his Union Jack cushion to the amusement of those around him
There were smiles and cheers on Court One after Raducanu recaptured the sparkling form that saw her win her first Grand Slam at the tender age of 18
The former British number one raced into a 5-0 lead in the first set to make the perfect start to her second round clash
Raducanu was in imperious form during the early stages of her clash with the world number 33
A beaming Raducanu on court with a Wimbledon towel draped over her shoulders during her post match interview
Raducanu was in imperious form during her second round match with BBC’s Annabel Croft saying it would ‘put a few frighteners through the women’s draw’
Against Mertens, the former British number was able to recapture the kind of form that saw her win her first Grand Slam at the young age of 18 in 2021.
Raducanu was repeatedly interrupted by a cheering buoyant crowd as she spoke on court with a Wimbledon towel draped over her shoulders after her impressive win.
‘I think I played some really good tennis today I’m really pleased,’ she said. ‘I’m over the moon to be playing here and just extend my stay.
‘With the roof closed it was super loud and I’m so grateful to all the support today. I’m really appreciative to everyone making a lot of noise.’
And she spoke of the ‘real gift and honour’ of playing in the mixed doubles with Andy Murray who is appearing at Wimbledon for the last time.
‘It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. It’s a dream of mine since I was a young girl watching the Olympics,’ she said.
‘Andy’s a hero to us all, so for me it’s a real gift and a real honour that he asked me.’
