Fearless Emma Raducanu THRASHES Wimbledon No 9 seed Maria Sakkari on Centre Court to breeze into second week
EMMA RADUCANU has thumped Maria Sakkari 6-1 6-3 in a repeat of their US Open semi-final from 2021.
The Brit, 21, claimed it was among the “most fun” occasions she has ever had on a tennis court after dumping out the ninth seed.
She claimed her first ever top 10 win at a Major on Centre Court, and just the second of her career.
Raducanu took control of the match early on, counter-punching sensationally off Sakkari’s bruising strokes.
The Greek then began to spray errors under increasing pressure.
And she could not live with her sensational opponent, who took just 92 minutes to win.
Next up for Raducanu in singles will be qualifier Lulu Sun, who beat China’s Zhu Lin 7-6 7-6 earlier today.
Before then, she will play the mixed event with Andy Murray – but admitted moments after today’s win that she will have to take a “crash course in doubles”.
Raducanu had booked her spot in round three at a Grand Slam for the first time since her fairytale in New York.
She won ugly against lucky loser Renata Zarazua on Monday but put on a scintillating performance to thrash Elise Mertens in her second match under the No1 Court roof.
But it was back to Centre Court to take on No9 seed Sakkari of Greece, hoping to replicate her run to the fourth round here at Wimbledon from 2021.
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Wimbledon 2024 prize money
PRIZE MONEY for the 2024 Wimbledon Championships is a new record – and puts the grass-court Slam at the top of the tree.
The All England Club will dish out £50million across all the events – an increase of £5.3m and 11.9 per cent on last year, where singles champions Carlos Alcaraz and Marketa Vondrousova picked up £2.35m each.
However, the king and queen of grass this July will collect an extra £350,000 – taking the winner’s earnings to £2.7m.
Here is the breakdown for the 2024 Wimbledon singles prize money:
- Winner: £2.7m
- Runner-up: £1.4m
- Semi-finalists: £715,000
- Quarter-finalists: £375,000
- Fourth round: £226,000
- Third round: £143,000
- Second round: £93,000
- First round: £60,000
- Overall total: £50m
Tennis stars’ new careers
PLENTY of tennis stars have stayed involved in the sport since retiring.
But others pursued very different careers. Here are some of the best…
- I reached French Open and Wimbledon finals as a teenager but I quit to become a nun
- I won Wimbledon mixed doubles with my sister but got fed up with English weather so now run luxury B&B
- I was tipped for stardom aged 12 but retrained to become high-flying lawyer
- I earned £9m and won French Open before setting up bistro with Brazilian model girlfriend
- I’m last Frenchman to win Roland Garros, now I’m singer with six albums hitting No1 in charts
- I’m former world No1 but quit aged 29 – instead I went on to play professional poker and golf
- I was destined for the top but swapped lobs for labs as award-winning Harvard physicist
