Emma Raducanu reached the last 16 of a Grand Slam for the first time since winning the US Open in 2021 when she defeated world number nine Maria Saccari at Wimbledon on Friday.
The 21-year-old British star beat his Greek opponent 6-2, 6-3 for only the second win for a top 10 player.
Now New Zealand’s top seed Lulu Sun will be dreaming of a quarter-final place as she advances to the fourth round.
Raducanu, ranked 135th and playing on the cards after battling several injuries, defeated Saccari in the semifinals, the all-time champion of the US almost three years ago.
On Friday, it was controlled from under the center court roof during a break in the first game.
He served again on the way to the open pocket, saving five breaks he faced for the seventh time.
With the support of an expectant crowd, Raducanu took a 2-1 lead in the second set and eventually broke the tie in the third game.
Raducanu arrived at the All England club last month after the first semi-final of the year in Nottingham.
She then saved a match point to beat Eastbourne’s Jessica Pegula for her first win against a top 10 player.
PIGEON GAUFF in his fourth appearance
Coco Gauff advanced to the fourth round of Wimbledon on Friday with a 6-4, 6-0 defeat of British seed Sonai Kartal.
The US Open champion, who has reached at least the semi-finals of the last three Grand Slams, was broken five times in the match to cap the best run of any English club.
Not the same in the first set against the American World 298 in the second round.
But ultimately he had too much in his locker for his unknown opponent, hitting 16 winners to Eagle’s six and racing through the second set without losing a match in 22 minutes.
“It’s the first time I’ve played an English player here, so I’m a bit nervous because I know you’re going to be there for him,” Gauff said.
“Being an American, I know how it feels when I’m at the US Open. Fortunately, the people (crowd) are really good to me, and that helps.”
Gauff, 20, had a career-best Wimbledon career as a qualifier in 2019, reaching the fourth round, and will also reach the same round in 2021.
She faced her compatriot Emma Navarro in the last 16.
