Emma Raducanu delivered a compelling performance at Wimbledon 2025, defeating former champion Marketa Vondrousova in straight sets. The British No. 1 showcased glimpses of the form that propelled her to the US Open title in 2021, overcoming the 2023 Wimbledon winner 6-3, 6-3. This victory propels her into the third round for the second consecutive year, where she is set to face world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.

Raducanu's aggressive groundstrokes and dominant serve were key to her success against Vondrousova. She demonstrated a combination of power, precision, and finesse, dictating the tempo of the match from the start. Raducanu secured the win in front of a supportive Centre Court crowd. After the match, Raducanu expressed her satisfaction with her performance, stating, "I think today I played really, really well". She acknowledged the difficulty of facing Vondrousova, recognizing her opponent's Wimbledon title and overall talent. "I knew playing Marketa was going to be an extremely difficult match, she's won this tournament before and it's a huge achievement," Raducanu said.

Vondrousova, while gracious in defeat, acknowledged Raducanu's strong play. "She was playing amazing tennis," Vondrousova said. "She was crushing me in the rallies, so there wasn't much I could do".

Raducanu's path to the third round began with a straight-sets victory over fellow Brit Mimi Xu. Against Vondrousova, Raducanu's aggressive approach was evident, hitting 18 winners to secure the victory. She also demonstrated tactical flexibility, varying her pace and angles to keep Vondrousova off balance. Raducanu broke Vondrousova's serve multiple times and managed to recover from a service game loss herself to clinch the first set.

Looking ahead, Raducanu is preparing for a challenging match against Aryna Sabalenka. Raducanu is aware of the challenge, stating that Sabalenka is "number one in the world right now, so dominant on the tour," and that it is "going to be a really difficult match". Despite the daunting task, Raducanu remains focused on her own game. "All I can do is control my side of the court as best as possible," she said. "When you play an opponent like her you have to play well". She also added, with a laugh, "I guess there's no pressure on me at all in the next round".

Raducanu's performance at Wimbledon 2025 marks a potential turning point in her season. After a series of mixed results, including early exits at the Singapore Open, Abu Dhabi Open and Qatar Open, this win against a former champion could signal a return to form. Her improved serve, strategic gameplay, and mental fortitude were all on display, leaving fans optimistic about her chances against Sabalenka and beyond.

The match between Raducanu and Sabalenka is scheduled for Friday, July 4th, and is anticipated to be a major highlight of the tournament.