Wimbledon 2024 updates: Live scores as Emma Raducanu stuns Maria Sakkari after Carlos Alcaraz survives scare
Raducanu impressed once again on Centre Court, dropping just five games against the world No.9, while Carlos Alcaraz edged past a brilliant Frances Tiafoe on a rainy day at Wimbledon
Emma Raducanu breezed into the fourth round of Wimbledon on Centre Court with an impressive victory over No.9 seed Maria Sakkari.
The Briton has matched her career-best run at SW19 from 2021 and now faces qualifier Lulu Sun, ranked 123 in the world, in the fourth round after the New Zealander's third-round win over China's Lin Zhu.
The free-flowing Raducanu, whose aggressive play delighted the home crowd, will now switch attention to the mixed doubles on Saturday and a partnership with Andy Murray, who could be playing his final match at Wimbledon following an emotional ceremony after a doubles defeat alongside brother Jamie on Thursday night.
Elsewhere, on a rain-affected day at Wimbledon, with play severely limited outside of Centre Court and No.1 Court, Carlos Alcaraz survived a five-set epic with Frances Tiafoe to retain momentum in his title defence and pursuit of a fourth grand slam.
Sonay Kartal’s Wimbledon run is over after losing the final eight games in a row in a 6-4 6-0 defeat to the world number two Coco Gauff. Relive all the action and reaction from the day's play so far, plus the evening matches on Centre and No.1 below:
Wimbledon 2024: Emma Raducanu 2-0 Maria Sakkari*
Sakkari moves to 0-15 then wins a forehand duel, slinging a winner across the court. 0-30.
Nice forehand pressure from Raducanu, and Sakkari eventually nudges a backhand beyond the baselines. 15-30.
Sakkari brings up break point, but she hooks a forehand into the tramlines! 30-40.
Ace out wide! Another break point saved! Deuce.
Great rally. Eventually, Raducanu gets a bit lucky as she balloons a forehand but it somehow lands in the court, and Sakkari then makes another error!
Advantage Raducanu. And Sakkari fires long again! Raducanu holds after saving two break points.
Wimbledon 2024: Emma Raducanu* 1-0 Maria Sakkari
*denotes next server
Sakkari with a strong start behind her serve, moving to 30-0.
But Raducanu gets on the board and the crowd loves that! 30-15.
Searing backhand winner from Sakkari, however – crosscourt and into the corner. That brings up two game points. 40-15.
The Greek steps in on a forehand, but she overshoots it as she aims for the corner. 40-30.
Now the players trade deep backhands, with Sakkari again pushing a groundstroke too long! Deuce.
Sakkari with another miss, and the crowd’s voice is heard again as Raducanu has break point!
YET AGAIN Sakkari puts too much on a forehand, and Raducanu breaks in the opening game!
Wimbledon 2024: Emma Raducanu vs Maria Sakkari
Emma Raducanu will get her wish of playing under the roof of Centre Court, with the rain pounding down outside.
“I prefer having the roof on probably because I think the sound is just amplified,” she said after her win against Elise Mertens in the second round.
“It’s like a concert hall. It’s really nice to play in, an amazing environment. It’s a lot louder. The ball even sounds different when you hit it.”
And here come the players!
Wimbledon 2024: What an ovation for Frances Tiafoe
Stunning from Centre Court to recognise the effort from Frances Tiafoe in that match.
A standing ovation for a fierce competitor.
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 5, 2024
Thanks for all the entertainment, @FTiafoe 👊#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/9GSEMMAiDJ
Wimbledon 2024: Coco Gauff vs Sonay Kartal
Because of Alcaraz and Tiafoe’s epic, Sonay Kartal has made it onto court before Emma Raducanu, even though the British world number 298 was only the third match on Court One.
She faces world number 2 Coco Gauff, with the American in sensational form so far this tournament. Gauff has taken the early break and leads 3-1.
Wimbledon 2024: Carlos Alcaraz 5-7 6-2 4-6 7-6(2) 6-2 Frances Tiafoe
Carlos Alcaraz asks for the Spain vs Germany score in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals!
It’s currently 0-0, but Alcaraz will be heading to watch that somewhere as soon as possible...
Wimbledon 2024: Carlos Alcaraz 5-7 6-2 4-6 7-6(2) 6-2 Frances Tiafoe
Game, set and match! Alcaraz does it!
In the match of the tournament so far, the champion pulls off the comeback to keep his tournament defence alive. That was a brave effort from Tiafoe but Alcaraz switched himself on at the start of the fourth-set tiebreak and from there, victory never felt it doubt.
He plants a brilliant forehand winner onto the line on his way to beating Tiafoe at the net. With three match points, Alcaraz wins with a drop shot before raising his arms! Lovely embrace at the net between Alcaraz and Tiafoe, fitting for a match played in such a good spirit.
Wimbledon 2024: Carlos Alcaraz 5-7 6-2 4-6 7-6(2) 5-1 Frances Tiafoe
Alcaraz moves a game away with an ace out wide. He is closing in on his 12th five-set win, from 13 attemps. Matteo Berrettini is the only player to beat him over the full distance at the 2022 Australian Open, and that was when Alcaraz was still only a teenager.
Wimbledon 2024: *Carlos Alcaraz 5-7 6-2 4-6 7-6(2) 4-1 Frances Tiafoe - BREAK!
A double fault from Tiafoe on 15-15 leaves the door open for Alcaraz to push for the second break.
Tiafoe, as if the air has been taken out of him, then slumps a forehand into the net, giving Alcaraz two break points.
Alcaraz goes long on the forehand return, but will have another chance.
And that’s a stunning way to do it from Alcaraz! A beautiful, inside-out drop shot from the Spaniard seals the second break.
Beatifully done. That should be it.
Wimbledon 2024: *Carlos Alcaraz 5-7 6-2 4-6 7-6(2) 2-1 Frances Tiafoe - BREAK!
Alcaraz senses his chance to attack and forces Tiafoe into a backhand slice that drifts out... 0-30 and a chance for Alcaraz, and a break point follows as Tiafoe pushes long on the forehand.
STUNNING backhand winner from Alcaraz as Tiafoe came into the net! He gets a huge break at the start of the fifth!
Over on Court No 1, Grigor Dimitrov is through to the last-16 after beating Gael Monfils in straight-sets and looks likely to face Daniil Medvedev next.
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