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Wimbledon 2025: Top Seed Aryna Sabalenka Beats Home Favourite Emma Raducanu In Third Round

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka secured her place in the Wimbledon Round of 16 in a thrilling match on Friday, defeating British favourite Emma Raducanu in two tightly contested sets during a night match on Centre Court. With the roof closed under darkening skies, the reigning US Open champion Sabalenka triumphed over the 2021 US Open champion Raducanu with a score of 7-6(8), 6-4 in their highly anticipated third-round encounter. Sabalenka took exactly two hours to advance to the second week of Wimbledon for the third time. Throughout the match, she faced challenges, as she was down a break in both sets but managed to fight back and secure the win. In the first-set tiebreak, she saved a set point, and she was also just one point away from a 5-1 deficit in the second set.

Wimbledon Tennis: Emma Raducanu vs Aryna Sabalenka
Wimbledon Tennis: Aryna Sabalenka vs Emma Raducanu | Photo: AP/Joanna Chan

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus celebrates after beating Emma Raducanu of Britain to win a third round women's singles match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London.

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Wimbledon Tennis: Aryna Sabalenka vs Emma Raducanu
Wimbledon Tennis: Emma Raducanu vs Aryna Sabalenka | Photo: AP/Kin Cheung

Emma Raducanu of Britain slips and falls attempting to return to Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus during a third round women's singles match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London.

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Wimbledon 2025: Emma Raducanu vs Aryna Sabalenka
Wimbledon 2025: Aryna Sabalenka vs Emma Raducanu | Photo: AP/Kin Cheung

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus serves to Emma Raducanu of Britain during a third round women's singles match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London.

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Wimbledon 2025: Aryna Sabalenka vs Emma Raducanu
Wimbledon 2025: Emma Raducanu vs Aryna Sabalenka | Photo: AP/Joanna Chan

Emma Raducanu of Britain serves to Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus during a third round women's singles match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London.

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Britain Wimbledon Tennis: Emma Raducanu vs Aryna Sabalenka
Britain Wimbledon Tennis: Aryna Sabalenka vs Emma Raducanu | Photo; AP/Kin Cheung

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus reacts after winning a point against Emma Raducanu of Britain during a third round women's singles match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London.

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Britain Wimbledon Tennis: Aryna Sabalenka vs Emma Raducanu
Britain Wimbledon Tennis: Emma Raducanu vs Aryna Sabalenka | Photo: AP/Kin Cheung

Emma Raducanu of Britain returns to Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus during a third round women's singles match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London.

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Wimbledon Tennis Championships: Emma Raducanu vs Aryna Sabalenka
Wimbledon Tennis Championships: Aryna Sabalenka vs Emma Raducanu | Photo: AP/Joanna Chan

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus returns to Emma Raducanu of Britain during a third round women's singles match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London.

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Wimbledon Tennis Championships: Aryna Sabalenka vs Emma Raducanu
Wimbledon Tennis Championships: Emma Raducanu vs Aryna Sabalenka | Photo: AP/Joanna Chan

Emma Raducanu of Britain returns to Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus during a third round women's singles match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London.

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Wimbledon Championships: Emma Raducanu vs Aryna Sabalenka
Wimbledon Championships: Aryna Sabalenka vs Emma Raducanu | Photo: AP/Kin Cheung

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus returns to Emma Raducanu of Britain during a third round women's singles match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London.

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Wimbledon Championships: Aryna Sabalenka vs Emma Raducanu
Wimbledon Championships: Emma Raducanu vs Aryna Sabalenka | Photo: AP/Kin Cheung

Emma Raducanu of Britain slips and falls attempting to return to Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus during a third round women's singles match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London.

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Emma Raducanu vs Aryna Sabalenka Wimbledon Championships
Aryna Sabalenka vs Emma Raducanu Wimbledon Championships | Photo: AP/Kin Cheung

Emma Raducanu of Britain reacts after winning a point against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus during a third round women's singles match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London.

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