British number one Emma Raducanu delivered one of her most complete performances in recent memory, sweeping aside 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova to reach the third round of the Championships.
Playing with poise and power on a buzzing Centre Court, the 22-year-old triumphed 6-3, 6-3 in just 82 minutes. It was a commanding display from the former US Open champion, who will need to maintain – or raise – that level in a blockbuster third-round clash against world number one Aryna Sabalenka on Friday.
“I think today I played really, really well. There were some points where I had no idea how I turned them around,” said a beaming Raducanu in her on-court interview. “I knew playing Marketa would be incredibly tough. She’s a Wimbledon champion – that speaks for itself. I’m just really pleased with how I stuck to my game throughout.”
Raducanu’s victory made her the third British player to reach the third round on Wednesday, following Sonay Kartal and Cameron Norrie. Her win came on a day of upsets in the women’s draw, as 2024 runner-up Jasmine Paolini became the fourth top-five seed to crash out before the third round. Only Sabalenka remains among the top five seeds, marking just the second time in the Open era that only one has made it this far at a Grand Slam.
Looking ahead to her showdown with the Belarusian top seed, Raducanu said: “She’s number one for a reason – so dominant, she’s won pretty much everything. It’s going to be a really tough match. But I’m so happy with how I played today, and all I can do is focus on my side of the court.
“When you face someone like her, you know you have to raise your game. There’s no pressure on me at all.”
A Return to Her Free-Flowing Best
Having reclaimed her British number one status with a strong showing at Queen’s, Raducanu came into Wimbledon feeling ready to express herself again on the court. Though her preparation included a disappointing loss to 17-year-old Maya Joint in Eastbourne, she has since rediscovered her rhythm.
After a confident opening win over compatriot Mimi Xu, Raducanu stepped it up further against Vondrousova. She broke the Czech’s serve with a dazzling passing shot in the sixth game and, after briefly surrendering her lead, regained control to take the set 6-3.
Maintaining her intensity into the second set, Raducanu broke early and held firm under pressure, fending off two break points before closing out the match with another decisive break. The crowd’s excitement grew with each point, prompting the chair umpire to remind fans to stay quiet during rallies.
This was Raducanu in full flow — focused, aggressive, and confident. Her serve and forehand, two areas she’s been refining under coach Mark Petchey since March, were particularly sharp. The work being done behind the scenes, especially with a more attack-minded approach, was evident in every shot.
Momentum and Confidence Building
Raducanu’s dominant win over a former Wimbledon champion – one who had beaten five top-50 players, including Sabalenka, to win the Berlin Open just weeks ago – is a clear sign of her upward trajectory.
It’s been a remarkable comeback for Raducanu, who started the 2024 season ranked outside the top 300 following surgeries on both wrists and an ankle. Now back inside the top 40 and looking stronger with each match, she’s beginning to resemble the player who shocked the world at the 2021 US Open.
She’ll now face the ultimate test in Sabalenka, but if Wednesday’s performance is anything to go by, Raducanu is more than ready for the challenge.
