* World No 1 wins 7-6 (6), 6-4 in third round * British player served for first set and led 4-1 in second For a few glorious, fleeting moments late on Friday evening, as 15,000 spectators collectively lost their minds, something special was unfolding under the Centre Court roof. Not only was Emma Raducanu holding her own against Aryna Sabalenka, she was soaring. An hour into one of the most intense, fast-paced sets of her life, Raducanu arrived at set point against the best player in the world. But Sabalenka, the world No 1, has long grown accustomed to dealing with that massive target on her back, which so often spurs her opponents to perform far above their usual level. In the face of a grand slam champion playing some of her very best tennis, Sabalenka elevated her game to even greater heights in the decisive moments, crushing Raducanu’s hopes of a statement win by closing out an intense, unforgettable tussle with a 7-6 (6), 6-4 win to reach the fourth round. After coming so close to truly disrupting such a special opponent, Raducanu’s first thoughts will be of her painful disappointment after she was unable to take the many chances she brilliantly earned. Raducanu served for the first set at 6-5, then she held a set point at 6-5 in the tiebreak. In the second set, Raducanu then held a break point for a 5-1 second-set lead. But every time she established a lead, Sabalenka reeled her back in. Still, her career against the elite has largely been a series of disappointing performances bereft of confidence and quality. Here Raducanu rose to the occasion spectacularly at the urging of her home crowd, demonstrating the full capabilities of her well-rounded game, her improved serve and forehand, and her heart as she pushed Sabalenka hard for two hours. As Raducanu walked out on to Centre Court far later than expected on Friday evening, her eyes scanning all corners of the stadium, she steadied herself for one of the most significant occasions of her career. With the exception of her US Open triumph nearly four years ago, Raducanu has still not contested many matches with the emotional significance of facing the world No 1 at Wimbledon on home soil. Continue reading...

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