Raducanu vs Sabalenka: Wimbledon 2025 Preview

Before the tournament started, Raducanu said she did not “truthfully expect much” from herself over the next fortnight.

After losing in Eastbourne last week to Australian teenager Maya Joint, Raducanu admitted she needed to get her “head in the game” for the start of Wimbledon.

She explained she had received some “pretty bad” personal news which she wished to keep private and, on the tennis side of her life, has been coping with ongoing back spasms since the off season.

But the 2021 US Open champion came through her opening match – a tricky occasion against British teenager Mimi Xu – without a major scare and upped her level again in a dominant victory over Vondrousova.

“That’s quite a statement that Emma has put out,” said former British number one Annabel Croft, who was analysing the match for BBC Radio 5 Live.

“I don’t think she could be hitting the ball any better, I really don’t. She was absolutely middling it.

“I would think that would be quite worrying for Sabalenka actually because she’ll be facing Raducanu at her best.

“If Raducanu can play anything close to that level again, although she may not be allowed to because Sabalenka will bring a lot of power, she will give the world number one a run for her money.”