Emma Raducanu delivers masterclass to defeat former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrouosova

Emma Raducanu secured a remarkable victory over the 2023 Wimbledon champion Markéta Vondrouosva, advancing to the third round of the tournament. The world No. 40 once again showed her strong adaptation to grass courts, clinching a revitalizing win for her confidence.

Raducanu arrived at SW19 with some physical doubts, which forced her to withdraw from the Berlin Ladies Open two weeks prior. The following week, she played the Eastbourne Open, where a first-round loss raised concerns. However, Wimbledon is once again bringing her good results, and she's guaranteed a blockbuster third-round clash against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.

This was one of the marquee second-round matches this Wednesday, featuring two Grand Slam champions facing off, both looking to return to the forefront of the Tour and contend for major titles. Both players started by comfortably defending their service games, with no break points until Raducanu took a 3-2 lead.

It was then that the Brit secured the break on the first chance of the match, although she started the next game down 0-40, which resulted in Vondrouosva breaking straight back. Nevertheless, the Czech conceded her serve for a second consecutive time, and Raducanu ultimately took the set 6-3 on her serve, winning 61% of her service points and 52% on return.

The second set began with immediate intensity. Raducanu had three break opportunities early on and took a 2-1 lead. With some difficulty, she saved a 15-40 deficit in the next game, securing a comfortable 3-1 lead, while Vondrousova struggled to stay in the battle in a match that was becoming very favorable for the home player.

Vondrousova showed resilience from the baseline, constantly drawing Raducanu into long rallies. Both players remained consistent on serve in the final part of the set, especially Raducanu, who extended her lead to 5-3. The Brit capitalized on the crowd's support and the pressure on her opponent, closing out the victory 6-3, 6-3, setting up a thrilling encounter against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the third round.