𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Aryna Sabalenka 2-3 Emma Raducanu*

Ooh, Sabalenka sends it wide, and Raducanu has another break point…

Saved as the top seed comes to the net to palm away a volley.

But Raducanu has a third chance to break as Sabalenka gets unlucky with a net cord, the ball dropping back onto her side of the net!

And she breaks! Centre Court are on their feet as Raducanu digs deep in the rally, and it’s the top seed who cracks, thumping into the net!

*Aryna Sabalenka 2-2 Emma Raducanu

Both players know just how high the stakes are in this one. “Come on!” shouts the Belarusian as she puts away a smash.

Huge cheers greet a wildly wayward forehand…

Raducanu tries a drop shot and it’s not a bad idea, but Sabalenka demonstrates a deft touch of her own with a drop shot in reply.

Another forehand long by the top seed and the crowd roar their encouragement as Raducanu gets to 30-30… and the Brit disrupts her with a backhand slice before sending a winner down the line. Break point Raducanu.

Saved with an ace. Deuce.

*Aryna Sabalenka 2-2 Emma Raducanu

A lovely backhand down the line by Raducanu to kick this service game off. Every point won is punctuated by a fist pump; she looks pretty composed out there, focused on the task at hand.

A puff of paint comes off the grass with a fine ace down the T; and Sabalenka dumps into the net to secure a love hold. This is what the Centre Court crowd wanted to see. One minute and 30 seconds on the court for that game.

Aryna Sabalenka 2-1 Emma Raducanu*

The frustration is already showing for Sabalenka as she thumps a forehand into the net.

Raducanu has a chance on second serve but sends her reply long.

The Belarusian seals the hold with a fine winner that looks destined to be going wide – but lands perfectly on the baseline.

*Aryna Sabalenka 1-1 Emma Raducanu

Raducanu opens with a strong wide serve and second strike hammered into the open court, but then a double fault. First serves are going to be so important in this one.

An ace is followed by a roar of “Come on!” and plenty of applause.

Two errors by Sabalenka, the second a first serve return palmed into the net, and that’s Raducanu on the board with a tidy hold.

Aryna Sabalenka 1-0 Emma Raducanu*

A brilliant second serve return, the forehand whipped down the line, brings up a break point…

Two enormous serves wipe them out, and the Belarusian gets on the board as she redirects Raducanu and slams the ball in behind her.

What can Raducanu do here?

Aryna Sabalenka vs Emma Raducanu*

A fist pump from the Brit and eager applause from the crowd as Raducanu wins the first point with a fine cross-court winner at full stretch, that Sabalenka can’t get back in the court.

Raducanu gets to 30-30, capitalising on an error from the top seed, and brings up deuce as she attacks a second serve – and Sabalenka goes wide!

Top seed Sabalenka has won the toss and opted to serve. I wouldn’t want to be Raducanu facing that.

Huge cheers as the players walk out onto Centre Court. Does Sabalenka look a fraction nervous? Both have their game faces on.

Right, that means Emma Raducanu will be walking on to Centre Court shortly, for her match with No 1 seed Aryna Sabalenka.

This should be a prime-time corker. Raducanu looked impressive in beating former champion Marketa Vondrousova in the previous round but Sabalenka is the runaway favourite to take the title.

Can the Brit conjure a magic moment at the All England Club?