Raducanu storms into Wimbledon last 16
Sports
Raducanu defeated Maria Sakkari 6-2, 6-3 for only her second win over a top-10 player.
LONDON (AFP) – Emma Raducanu reached the last 16 of a Grand Slam for the first time since her 2021 US Open triumph when she defeated world number nine Maria Sakkari at Wimbledon on Friday.
The 21-year-old British star defeated her Greek opponent 6-2, 6-3 for only her second win over a top-10 player.
She will now fancy her chances of making the quarter-finals when she tackles New Zealand qualifier Lulu Sun, the world number 123, in the fourth round.
Raducanu, ranked at 135 and playing on a wildcard after struggling with a series of injuries, had defeated Sakkari in the semi-finals on her way to her history-making US Open breakthrough almost three years ago.
On Friday, she was in control from the start under the roof of Centre Court with a break in the first game.
She broke serve again in the seventh on her way to pocketing the opener, having saved all five break points she had faced.
Backed by an expectant home crowd, Raducanu carved out a crucial break for a 2-1 lead in the second set and eventually sealed the tie on a third match point.
Raducanu had arrived at the All England Club after making her first semi-final of the year at Nottingham last month.
She then saved a match point to beat Jessica Pegula in Eastbourne for her first win against a top 10 player.
GAUFF OVERPOWERS REACHES FOURTH ROUND
Coco Gauff swept into the Wimbledon fourth round on Friday, seeing off the challenge of British qualifier Sonay Kartal 6-4, 6-0 with a minimum of fuss.
The US Open champion, who has made at least the semi-finals of the past three Grand Slams, broke five times in the match to equal her best run at the All England Club.
The American world number two did not have it all her own way in the first set against the world 298.
But ultimately she had too much in her locker for her unknown opponent, firing 16 winners to Kartal's six and racing through the second set without dropping a game in 22 minutes.
"This is my first time playing a British player here so I was little nervous because I knew you'd be for her, which is understandable," said Gauff.
"Being an American I know how it feels when I'm at the US Open. When I play at home it gives me an edge. Thankfully you guys (the crowd) were pretty nice to me so that helped."
Gauff, 20, made her career breakthrough at Wimbledon as a qualifier in 2019, reaching the fourth round, and made the same stage in 2021.
She faces compatriot Emma Navarro in the last 16.
