Emma Raducanu (No. 135) easily defeats Elise Mertens (No.
33), advances to Wimbledon third round. The former US Open champion had a
dominant start in the match, while Mertens failed to threaten her opponent's
service, compounded by constant unforced errors that cost her the match.
The current British No. 6 secures a ranking rise and is now
No. 106 in the live rankings. Her next challenge will be against the winner of
the match between Arantxa Rus (No. 56) and the 9th seed Maria Sakkari. A win
would guarantee her re-entry into the top 100 after 14 months.
Emma Raducanu cruises past Elise Mertens
Raducanu enters to great local support on Court 1 at SW19.
Right from the start, Raducanu excelled in her service, winning points quickly
with a 77% first serve rate, and winning 67% of them. The Brit swiftly took the
lead with consecutive breaks in the second and fourth games, along with
effective serving that put her 5-0 up in under 30 minutes.
Although Mertens managed to hold her serve only once,
Raducanu closed out the set saving a break point against her, taking the lead
6-1. The players were tied at 7 winners each, while Raducanu capitalized on
Mertens' 14 unforced errors in just 7 games, compared to Raducanu's 8. In the
second set, Raducanu appeared poised to quickly take control again. In the
opening game, Mertens had to save 4 break points against her serve.
Unfortunately for the Belgian, she couldn't find an answer
to Raducanu's strong serving and struggled to threaten her opponent's serve.
The break came in the third game in favor of the former Grand Slam champion,
who seized her seventh set opportunity to go up 3-1 with her serve.
The nightmare continued for Mertens as she conceded her
serve for the second consecutive time, leaving her opponent in a commanding
position. Raducanu sealed the victory 6-1, 6-2 and will return to the third
round of a Grand Slam for the first time since her 2021 US Open title,
achieving a 6-2 (75%) record in three appearances at SW19. Her next opponent
will be the winner of the Rus – Sakkari match.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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