Raducanu Exits Wimbledon After Close Loss to Sabalenka

British No.1 Emma Raducanu was narrowly defeated by world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in a thrilling third-round Wimbledon match, losing 7-6 (8-6), 6-4 after pushing the top seed to the limit. Raducanu displayed improved composure and aggressive baseline play, saving multiple set points and challenging Sabalenka despite slipping leads in both sets. A significant factor in Raducanu's struggle was equipment issues, as she had to get a couple of her rackets re-strung during the match, which disrupted her rhythm and contributed to her frustration. Sabalenka acknowledged the impact of the closed roof and higher humidity on ball behavior and emphasized the importance of having multiple rackets with varying string tensions prepared, citing past experiences where lack of proper equipment affected her performance. Despite the loss, Raducanu expressed confidence gained from competing closely with a top player and believes this match marks a positive step in closing the gap with tennis's elite. Sabalenka will advance to face Belgian 24th seed Elise Mertens in the fourth round, while Raducanu looks forward to building on this strong showing.