Wimbledon: Sabalenka fights off Raducanu, Alcaraz marches on, Keys and Osaka crash out
World No 1 edges British No 1 in a tense Centre Court battle as Norrie and Kartal keep alive UK hopes as seeds continue to perish
Women’s top seed Aryna Sabalenka fought off inspired home favourite Emma Raducanu in a cauldron-like Centre Court atmosphere to keep her Wimbledon quest on track, but it was the end of the road for two other grand slam champions on Friday.
Sabalenka edged a ferocious contest under the roof after requiring eight set points in the opening set and then roaring back from a 4-1 deficit in a sizzling second.
“Wow! What an atmosphere, my ears are still hurting, it was super loud,” a relieved Sabalenka said on court after wrapping up the win on her third match point.
Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, chasing a third successive Wimbledon title, was also put through the wringer by Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff before sealing a last-16 spot with a 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win.