Aryna Sabalenka booked her spot in the fourth round at Wimbledon after a battling display against Emma Raducanu on Friday.

World number one Sabalenka won the match 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 in exactly two hours to set up a last-16 clash against Elise Mertens.

A thrilling first set between the pair lasted an hour and 14 minutes. Sabalenka found herself a break down, but fought back with one of her own to level the score again at 4-4.

Raducanu then saved seven set points in one game to make it 5-5, though she could not take advantage of going a break up as Sabalenka forced a tie-break.

However, the British number one failed to convert a set point of her own before Sabalenka eventually took the first set.

Raducanu started the second on fire at SW19, breaking Sabalenka on her way to a 4-1 lead.

But Sabalenka responded fought back once more, winning the next five games in a row before securing the win with her third match point against a demoralised Raducanu.

2 hour battle comes to an end @SabalenkaA goes one step further in the draw to seal her place in the fourth round.#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/dx1032txeK

— wta (@WTA) July 4, 2025

Data Debrief: Consistency key for Sabalenka

Sabalenka is the first player to make the round of 16 in all their first three women's singles grand slam appearances as world number one since Ashleigh Barty (Wimbledon 2019, Australian Open 2020 and 2021).

The Belarusian is also the first player to reach the fourth round for 11+ consecutive women’s singles grand slam appearances since Serena Williams (14 between the US Open 2014 and the Australian Open 2019).