Emma Raducanu vs Maria Sakkari - LIVE!
Can you really say a 21-year-old is rolling back the years? No, would normally be the answer, that phrase usually reserved for the likes of Andy Murray bounding around late in their career to provide a reminder of their enduring quality.
But Emma Raducanu is giving it a good go, three years on from following her fourth-round appearance at Wimbledon with an extraordinary run to the US Open title at Flushing Meadows. To suggest a repeat of the latter is even on the cards later this summer would be premature in the extreme, but the former has now been matched after a sensational performance to beat ninth seed Maria Sakkari 6-3 6-2 under the Centre Court roof. Just five games dropped, as was also the case against Sakkari in their US Open semi-final clash in 2021, and Raducanu will next face qualifier Lulu Sun.
“I think today was really up there with the most fun I have had on a tennis court, I really enjoyed every single moment,” Raducanu said. “I was telling myself you don't know how many times you are going to get the chance in your life to play in front of a full Centre Court so I'm really grateful for the support.”
