On fire Raducanu dumps out Sakkari to reach Wimbledon last 16

LONDON :When Emma Raducanu nonchalantly flicked a lob that appeared to be drifting long before it dropped inches inside the baseline to earn her a break and a hollering ovation from the Wimbledon crowd, Maria Sakkari must have known this was not going to be her day. 

So it proved to be as Britain's only female singles Grand Slam champion in 47 years was roared on to a 6-2 6-3 third round victory over the Greek ninth seed under a closed Centre Court roof on a soggy Friday.

Raducanu, who needed a wildcard invite from organisers to even compete at the grasscourt major as her ranking has plummeted to 135th after an injury plagued 2023, had beaten Sakkari the only previous time they had met - at the 2021 U.S. Open semi-finals. 

Demonstrating a steely resolve and showing flashes of the brilliance that unexpectedly carried her to the 2021 Flushing Meadows title, Raducanu once again made a mockery of her ranking difference with a show-stopping performance and sealed victory after Sakkari whipped a forehand wide.   

After two years of pain and very little gain, Raducanu is once again enjoying a joyous run of form as she has reached the last 16 without dropping a set and Sakkari's exit has opened up her quarter of the draw, which no longer features a seed. 

"Today was really up there with the most fun I have had on a tennis court, I really enjoyed every single moment," Raducanu, flashing a megawatt smile, told the crowd. 

That desire to do well at Wimbledon has been burning inside Raducanu ever since she reached the fourth round on her debut appearance in 2021.

Big-stage jitters and injuries might have prevented her from topping that performance but on Friday's evidence, many will start believing this could be the year when she becomes