On a Friday night filled with drama and determination at Centre Court, Emma Raducanu gave everything she had—but it just wasn’t enough to take down World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
The 22-year-old Brit pushed the top seed to the limit in a gripping two-set thriller, but eventually bowed out with a 7–6, 6–4 loss.
A Match That Had Everyone on the Edge of Their Seats
From the very first serve, it was clear this wasn’t going to be an easy night for either player.
Raducanu saved a stunning seven set points in the opening set and looked like she might just steal the momentum away from her powerhouse opponent.
She even had a golden chance to take the first set when she served at 6–5 in the tiebreak, but Sabalenka dug deep and sealed it 8–6 with a slick drop volley that left the crowd gasping.
Raducanu Rallies in the Second But Sabalenka Fires Back
Despite the blow of losing the first set, Raducanu didn’t back down.
In fact, she came out firing in the second, holding serve confidently and breaking Sabalenka to charge into a 4–1 lead.
Her attacking mindset, aggressive returns, and court coverage were giving the three-time Grand Slam champion serious problems.
For a few minutes, it looked like an epic comeback might be on the cards.
But Sabalenka had other plans.
Sabalenka Shows Her Champion’s Grit
What followed was a ruthless comeback.
Sabalenka won five straight games, including two breaks of serve, turning the match completely on its head.
With her signature power game finally clicking, she found her rhythm and took control when it mattered most.
In her final service game, Raducanu still showed fight—clawing back from 40–0 to 40–30—but the final point slipped away as her shot found the net.
Praise From the World No. 1
After the match, Sabalenka had nothing but respect for her opponent.
“She played incredible tennis and pushed me really hard,” she said. “I had to fight for every point.
I’m so happy to see her healthy and back—she’s definitely going to be in the top 10 again soon.”
A Brave Run Comes to an End
Raducanu’s Wimbledon campaign this year had been building momentum.
She stormed into the third round with commanding wins over Mimi Xu and former champion Marketa Vondrousova—both in straight sets.
And with several top seeds already eliminated from the tournament, many hoped she could go on a Cinderella run.
But facing Sabalenka in this kind of form proved to be a mountain too steep, even for Raducanu’s remarkable resilience.
Only Two Brits Remain
With Raducanu out, that leaves Cameron Norrie and Sonay Kartal as the only British players still alive in the singles draw heading into the fourth round.
For Raducanu, the result is undoubtedly heartbreaking—but the performance? That was something to be proud of.
A Reminder That She’s Still a Force
This match wasn’t just a loss—it was a reminder that Emma Raducanu is very much back.
The way she stood toe-to-toe with one of the toughest players in the world showed how far she’s come since her injury setbacks.
She may not be lifting the Wimbledon trophy this year, but her fight, her heart, and her undeniable talent are once again on full display.
And that’s more than enough to get fans excited about what’s still to come.