EMMA MEETS THE ONE

Red-hot Raducanu books date with Sabalenka

- by NEIL MCLEMAN

THE good news for Emma Raducanu is that she served up a tactical masterclass on Centre Court - and won the best point of her career - to outclass former champion Marketa Vondrousova.

The bad news is that her reward is a third-round tie with world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka.

But the British No.1 now has a free hit in her home Grand Slam after overcoming her back issues and “pretty bad” personal news to reach the third round in style without dropping a set.

Vondrousova, now 26, has suffered from injuries since her sole Grand Slam triumph here in 2023 - and followed Raducanu in becoming only the third player in the Open era to lose in the first round of her title defence last year.