EMMA RADUCANU faces the toughest test in tennis right now as she booked a third-round clash with Aryna Sabalenka.
A 6-3 6-3 victory over Marketa Vondrousova, a former Wimbledon champion, was one of her best wins over four years of competing in SW19.
APEmma Raducanu stormed into the third round of Wimbledon after beating Marketa Vondrousova[/caption]
APThe British No1 won the second round clash in straight sets[/caption]
PAMarketa Vondrousova was no match for Raducanu, who played one of her best matches ever[/caption]
ReutersVondrousova was Wimbledon champion in 2023, with Carlos Alcaraz winning his first SW19 title the same year[/caption]
And it means she will now face the world No1 and three-time Grand Slam champion from Belarus in the last 32 on Friday.
Raducanu, 22, has won only three times in 15 meetings with top-10 players.
And she has never taken a set off someone ranked in the top-three spots on the WTA world rankings.
However, British fans can dream and pray for an upset because of the manner in which Raducanu managed to progress.
At times, she bullied Vondrousova into retreat and hit several backhand winners.
The Czech ace – who lost to Raducanu in the second round in 2021 – is nowhere near the same player that was lifting the Venus Rosewater Dish two years ago.
If she can maintain that high level then who knows, she might give Sabalenka a decent, competitive contest.
Someone even shouted out “that’s the old Emma Raducanu” and there were glimpses of the standard that she set when she won the US Open four years ago.
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Raducanu barely looked up at England boss Thomas Tuchel who was sitting in the Royal Box throughout her victory.
She was supported in her box by coach Mark Petchey and a group of friends who have known her since she was a teenager growing up in Kent and learning her trade in tennis.
The world No43 said: “Today I played really, really well. I think there were some points that I have no idea how I turned it around.
“There was one for sure that I remember in the second set. But I knew that playing Marketa it would be an extremely difficult match.
“I mean she has won this tournament and it’s a huge, huge achievement. I am so happy with how I competed.
“Put my game on the court and really focused the whole way through.
“I knew I had to be aggressive because Marketa would beat me if I pushed the ball around. But I think Mark has helped me a lot.
British hopes at Wimbledon
BRITAIN has 23 entrants in this year’s Wimbledon – the most since 1984. Here is a list of all those competing at the All England Club and their world rankings.
Men’s singles
Jack Draper, No. 4
Jacob Fearnley, No. 51
Cameron Norrie, No. 61
Billy Harris, No. 103
Jay Clarke, No. 199
Oliver Crawford, No. 252
Dan Evans, No. 170
Arthur Fery, No. 465
George Loffhagen, No. 302
Johannus Monday, No. 236
Jack Pinnington Jones, No. 282
Henry Searle, No. 409
Oliver Tarvet, No. 719
Women’s singles
Emma Raducanu, No. 38
Katie Boulter, No. 41
Sonay Kartal, No. 49
Jodie Burrage, No. 164
Harriet Dart, No. 124
Fran Jones, No. 125
Hannah Klugman, No. 577
Mika Stojsavljevic, No. 802
Heather Watson, No. 148
Mimi Xu, No. 318
“Everyone in that box has really been there for me. My friends. It’s amazing to have them here as well.
“Of course, the support has been incredible. I really felt it today. The atmosphere was electric and I am so happy to get to play another match here.
“Of course, Sabalenka is No1 in the world right now. So dominant on the Tour. Has won literally everything.
“It is going to be a really difficult match. I am just so happy with how I performed. All I can do is control my side of the court as best as possible
“When you play an opponent like her, you have to play well. But I guess there is no pressure on me at all in the next round.
“I really tried to stay focused today. I barely looked at my box. I knew I had to focus and lock in.
“I could easily get distracted. So, I had to focus on the tennis ball.”
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