SAKK ATTACKED
Fearless Emma Raducanu THRASHES Wimbledon No 9 seed Maria Sakkari on Centre Court to breeze into second week
Clash was a repeat of their 2021 US Open semi-final
EMMA RADUCANU has thumped Maria Sakkari 6-2 6-3 to claim her first ever top 10 Grand Slam win.
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 in barely an hour and a half.
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The triumph was her first top 10 win at a Major, 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 struggled from thereon to handle the occasion.
Sakkari could not live with her sensational opponent, who took just 92 minutes to win.
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Following her victory, Raducanu told the BBC: "I think today was really up there with the most fun I have had on a tennis court, I really enjoyed every single moment.
"I was telling myself you don't know how many times you are going to get the chance in your life to play in front of a full Centre Court so I'm really grateful for the support."
On claiming a second career top 10 win, she added: "I'm most proud of how focused and determined I was in every single point, in every single moment.
"Maria is a top 10 opponent. In a way, I came in with a free swing. But she is so tough, she has amazing weapons, I knew I had to battle.
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"I tried to not let the scoreline affect me. You just have to play every point like it could be your last, not to be dramatic!"
Next up for Raducanu in singles will be qualifier Lulu Sun, who beat China's Zhu Lin 7-6 7-6 earlier today.
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But she may have to recover from a late night doubles match tomorrow first.
She will play the mixed event with Andy Murray - but admitted moments after today's win that she will first have to take a "crash course in doubles".
The pair will take on Zhang Shuai and Marcelo Arevalo.
But the match will NOT take place on Centre Court - instead scheduled last on No1 Court.
This means that fans, and the BBC, could face a huge dilemma.
England's Euro 2024 quarter-final against Switzerland is set to be broadcast on BBC One at 5pm.
So Murray and Raducanu's match may be bumped to BBC Two, depending on the lengths of the matches before.
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No1 Court will open up at 1pm with the resumption of Ben Shelton's clash with Denis Shapovalov.
The match was forced off due to rain earlier today, with the American leading 3-2 in the first set.
Iga Swiatek vs Yulia Putintseva and Elena Rybakina vs Caroline Wozniacki will follow - before Murray and Raducanu's mixed doubles close out the schedule.
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Meanwhile, Centre Court will start with Cameron Norrie's battle with fourth seed Alexander Zverev.
Then will follow two-time finalist Ons Jabeur and Elina Svitolina, before Novak Djokovic's clash with Aussie Alexei Popyrin.
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
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