Emma Raducanu powered her way into the third round of Wimbledon on Wednesday, delivering a commanding 6-1 6-2 victory against Belgian Elise Mertens. Raducanu’s journey back to top form has been marked by fitness struggles since her astonishing U.S. Open triumph in 2021, but she showcased her resurgence with an impressive display against Mertens. From the baseline, Raducanu unleashed powerful shots, accompanied by passionate shouts and fist-pump celebrations with every point won. The British wildcard quickly established a dominant lead, racing to a 5-0 advantage against the 28-year-old Mertens under the closed roof of Court One, which was filled with a fervent home crowd. While Mertens managed to avoid a bagel by securing one game in the first set, Raducanu’s dominance was evident.
The second set followed a similar pattern, with Raducanu breaking Mertens in the third game with a brilliant backhand across the court. She broke again to extend her lead to 4-1. Mertens, ranked 33rd in the world, managed to hold serve in the subsequent game, but Raducanu remained relentless, securing two match points with an ace and ultimately securing the victory when Mertens sent a shot long. This marks Raducanu’s first third-round appearance at a Grand Slam since her historic title win at Flushing Meadows, igniting hopes of a first British women’s singles triumph at Wimbledon since Virginia Wade’s victory in 1977.
Reflecting on her performance, Raducanu expressed her delight with her progress: “I think I’m playing really good tennis. I’m really happy with the improvements I’ve made.” She attributed her success to the hard work she had invested throughout the year: “I knew all the hard yards and hard work I was doing this year would lead to something. I’m just so happy I’m able to reap some of the rewards here at Wimbledon.”
