A clinical Emma Raducanu conjured memories of her stunning US Open win by defeating ninth seed Maria Sakkari to ease into the fourth round at Wimbledon.
Raducanu had thumped Sakkari in the semi-finals in New York, and she again lost only five games under the roof on Centre Court, reminding the tennis world of her rare talent in a 6-2 6-3 victory.
Having not beaten a top-10 player in her career, the 21-year-old has now done it twice in a fortnight, as well as matching her best run at the All England Club from her breakthrough event three years ago.
“I think today was really up there with the most fun I’ve had on the tennis court. I really enjoyed every single moment,” said Raducanu.
“I told myself: ‘How many times in your life are you going to get to play in front of a full Centre Court?’
“I think I’m most proud of how I was so focused and determined on every single point and every single moment.
“I knew, playing Maria – she’s a top-10 opponent – I had to battle and fight hard. She’s so tough and has amazing weapons. I kind of saw it as a free swing.
“You just have to play every point like it could be your last.”
The British wild card will next face qualifier Lulu Sun, ranked 123 in the world, for a place in the quarter-finals on Sunday.
She played down the parallels between this fortnight and New York after swatting aside Elise Mertens in the last round, but there certainly are some, not least the fact she arrived here feeling confident and with plenty of wins under her belt.
Over the last month she has reached her first grass-court semi-final in Nottingham and then beat a top-10 player for the first time, seeing off Jessica Pegula in Eastbourne.
Sakkari pointed out in a rather prickly fashion ahead of the contest that it is she rather than Raducanu who has been among the best players in the world for the last three years.
But she has also struggled at the Grand Slams since making the last four in New York and came into Wimbledon having won just one match in her last five major tournaments.
An error-strewn first game from the Greek, who has never been beyond the third round here, gave Raducanu an immediate break of serve, while the big difference between the two was their handling of the big points.
Raducanu was exceptional, saving five break points across three games in the first set, one with an ace and another a searing forehand down the line.
She had Sakkari at 0-40 in the fifth game without managing to break but found the cushion she was looking for when an Andy Murray-esque lob landed on the baseline to give her a 5-2 lead.
Sakkari had two more chances in the next game but again Raducanu was rock solid, and there was an air of real excitement around Centre Court when she secured another break to lead 2-1 in the second set.
Errors were flowing again from the racket of a frustrated Sakkari, who vented in exasperation at her support box as Raducanu survived another close game, saving two more break points, one with a second-serve ace.
Sakkari saved two match points serving at 3-5 but sent a forehand wide on the third to leave Raducanu grinning in delight.
Raducanu on her form: ‘It’s all about winning the day’
“Well I think just having your inner passion. Win or lose, every day I’m just trying to win the day,” she said.
“Different days mean different things. Getting out on the court can sometimes be winning the day.
“Sometimes you win the day and you play amazing tennis. It’s give and take.”
Tale of the Tape
Kartal’s Wimbledon run comes to an end
Sonay Kartal’s impressive Wimbledon campaign ended in the third round after a straight-sets loss to US Open champion Coco Gauff (left)
Sonay Kartal’s impressive Wimbledon campaign ended in the third round after a straight-sets loss to US Open champion Coco Gauff.
World No 298 Kartal only won three games at the All England Club last year but managed more than that against Gauff and even broke the American in the first set on Court One.
Kartal held her own in several long rallies before Gauff eventually proved too strong with a 6-4 6-0 victory, but the British No 9 could be proud of her week’s work in SW19, which has pocketed her £143,000 in prize money and memories to last a lifetime.
No obvious nerves appeared on show from the 22-year-old though, who had admirably tried to keep up with Gauff’s powerful-hitting and duly did when the American sent her backhand long after a 15-shot rally to get Kartal on the scoreboard.
Big cheers greeted the hold and a 104mph ace helped secure another before the home favourite fashioned two break points in the seventh game.
Gauff sent down a double-fault to get the first set back on serve, but consecutive backhand winners by the world No 2, the first after a successful challenge, was enough to earn her a break back.
The 39-minute opener was closed out with an ace and a wild forehand by Kartal gifted Gauff a break at the start of the second set.
It was largely one-way traffic after but Kartal delighted the crowd by saving three break points in the fifth game of the second set.
Second seed Gauff did eventually seal the break and an ace ended Kartal’s fine run before she exited Court One to rapturous applause.
“I think today was a really good test for me. I’ve never come out with someone like Coco before,” Kartal said.
“My first set today, that set and the whole week has given me confidence to prove that my level is up there.
“It’s important for me now to play the bigger tournaments, play the bigger WTA tournaments, mix in with that level.”
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