Staff Reporter.
@Wimbledon.
Emma Raducanu knocked out 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova 6-3 6-3 to set up a blockbuster third-round clash with top seed Aryna Sabalenka.
Raducanu struggled with injuries and form, and her fourth-round showing at Wimbledon last year is her best result in a major since.
But her win against Vondrousova showed Raducanu might be back to her best.
“I think today I played really, really well. There were some points that I have no idea how I turned around,” an elated Raducanu said in her on-court interview.
“I knew playing Marketa was going to be an incredibly difficult match. She has won this tournament which is a huge achievement.
“I’m really pleased with how I played my game the whole way through.”
Her victory came on a day when the women’s draw further opened up, as 2024 runner-up Jasmine Paolini became the fourth top-five seed to exit the tournament.
It is just the second time in the Open era that only one of the top five players – Sabalenka – has made it through to the third round of the women’s singles at a Grand Slam event.
On facing the Belarusian top seed, Raducanu said: “She is number one in the world right now, so dominant on the tour and has won literally everything, so it is going to be a really difficult match.
“I’m just so happy with how I performed and all I can do is control my side of the court as best as possible.
“When you play an opponent like her you know you have to play well so I guess there is no pressure on me at all in the next round.”