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Sabalenka outguns Raducanu to reach Wimbledon last 16 / Photo: HENRY NICHOLLS - AFP
Sabalenka outguns Raducanu to reach Wimbledon last 16
Aryna Sabalenka overcame a fearsome challenge from Emma Raducanu and a partisan Centre Court crowd to stay on track for her first Wimbledon title on Friday.
In a pulsating contest of clean-hitting under the Centre Court roof from both women the world number one won 7-6 (8/6), 6-4.
Sabalenka found an extra gear when it mattered as the British player's form dipped, avoiding the fate of so many of the other top players at this year's championships.
It is only day five of Wimbledon but just four of the top 10 women's seeds remain, with half of the men's top 10 also ousted.
Former US Open champion Raducanu wasted little time signalling her refusal to be intimidated by the big-hitting Belarusian at the start of the match.
Matching the three-time Grand Slam champion blow for blow, she landed the first break in the fifth game when a blistering drive forced Sabalenka to net a backhand.
Raducanu clenched her fist in delight as a roar from the partisan crowd echoed under the closed roof.
Having trailed 4-2, Sabalenka hit back in the blink of an eye with a break to draw level in the eighth game.
Sabalenka tried to go for the kill, but when she amassed seven set points on Raducanu's serve in a marathon 10th game, the Briton nervelessly saved them all.
Raducanu seized on Sabalenka's visible frustration as she broke in the next game, only for the top seed to immediately break back.
A rollercoaster tie-break finally swung Sabalenka's way when she saved a set point, then caressed a deft volley to move ahead in the match.
Raducanu clawed back the initiative, breaking in the fourth game of the second set and then held to wild cheers from a captivated crowd.
Sabalenka, her grunts amplified under the roof, saved a break point in the sixth game to stay alive in the second set.
Raducanu could not close out the following game and went long with a forehand to hand back her break of serve.
In the following game Sabalenka stepped up a gear, lacing a backhand down the line before thundering down an ace, pulling level at 4-4.
A couple of careless errors in the following game gave Raducanu a mountain to climb and she was broken again.
Sabalenka served a double fault to give Raducanu hope but the British player then netted to spark celebrations from the top seed.
J.Varela--HdM
