Wimbledon 2025: Emma Raducanu sets up third-round clash against top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka

The Grand Slam saga in England this season opened up with shock exits in the first round. Now, Wimbledon 2025 has reached the third round of action, and with the majority of the Top 10 seeds across the men's and women's singles events out of the scene, the chances remain wide open. Meanwhile, Emma Raducanu, who broke out on the scene with her historic run as a wildcard entrant up to the Round of 16 at Wimbledon 2021, is eyeing to build on her Wimbledon legacy. The British seed overcame Marketa Vondrousova 6-3, 6-3 on Centre Court to advance to the third round of the ongoing Grand Slam tournament. However, awaiting the young gun in the next draw is the World No.1, Aryna Sabalenka.

Wimbledon 2025: Novak Djokovic bags 99th win, Emma Raducanu draws Aryna Sabalenka

The opening round of Wimbledon 2025 saw eight of the Top 10 seeds across the ATP and WTA events bow out in shock upsets. The second round witnessed another set of remaining higher-seeded prospects like Jasmine Paolini and Jack Draper bow out. While the draws look open, the favorites still remain in the game. Top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka downed Marie Bouzkova 7-6, 6-4 on Centre Court to charge her campaign to the business end of the Grand Slam.

While Coco Gauff exited in the first round, the No.3 seed, Iga Swiatek, who looks to end her title drought that has extended over a year on the tour now, beat Caty McNally 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 to keep her dream alive on the grass. The teenage sensation of the season, Mirra Andreeva, also remains alive in the contest, beating Lucia Bronzetti 6-1, 7-6 in the second round.

Meanwhile, the defending champion, Barbora Krejcikova, is well placed in her title defense, cruising into the next draw after clinching a 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 victory over Caroline Dolehide. The third round, however, is set for an exciting showdown as the home seed, Emma Raducanu, meets Aryna Sabalenka on Centre Court.

Raducanu cruised swiftly against the 2023 Wimbledon champion, Marketa Vondrousova, to set up the high-stakes meetup against the World No.1. The Brit's showing against seeds placed higher than her paints a tough picture for her, the recent straight-sets defeat against Iga Swiatek at Roland Garros being an instance pointing to the same. Raducanu has a 14-3 success rate against players ranked lower than her. However, the stats script a striking contrast when Raducanu is placed against someone from the Top 10, fielding a 3-9 record.

However, coming to Centre Court, multiple aspects would sing in chorus in support of the home star. Besides the crowd support at the All England Club, grass is the best shot that Raducanu will get to challenge the current best in the world. Sabalenka and Raducanu have met once before, where the top seed beat the Brit in straight sets on the hard surface of Indian Wells. Boosting her confidence another notch would be the fact that Raducanu is yet to drop a set in Wimbledon 2025.

Iga Swiatek will take on Danielle Collins in her bid to claim the maiden Wimbledon title. The Wimbledon 2022 champion, Elena Rybakina, moreover, cruised swiftly past Maria Sakkari with a 6-3, 6-1 victory to set up the third-round clash against Clara Tauson.

On the men's front, Novak Djokovic picked up his 99th Wimbledon victory, cruising past Dan Evans 6-3, 6-2, 6-0 to lock in a spot in the third round. Carlos Alcaraz, meanwhile, will take Centre Court against Jan-Lennard Struff after surviving a five-setter against Fabio Fognini in the second round. Jannik Sinner is also through with a clinical 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 win over Aleksandar Vukic. Sinner will now face Pedro Martinez, while Djokovic is propped up against Serbian compatriot Miomir Kecmanovic.