American Emma Navarro knocked out four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka in the second round of the women’s singles. At the same time, wildcard Emma Raducanu advanced to the third round of Wimbledon in a surprising turn of events at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.
OSAKA KNOCKED OUT
Osaka’s Wimbledon comeback ended in the second round with a 6-4, 6-1 loss to American Emma Navarro in just 58 minutes. After returning to the tour in January following a 15-month maternity break, the four-time Grand Slam champion aimed to “do much better on clay and grass.” However, she failed to surpass her career-best third-round performances at the French Open and Wimbledon.
Osaka nearly defeated world number one and eventual champion Iga Swiatek, squandering a match point before losing in the second round of the Roland Garros. A month later, her performance under the closed Centre Court roof at Wimbledon fell apart against the American 19th seed, especially after four errors led to a break in the first set.
Navarro kept up the pressure in the second set, quickly taking a 3-0 lead. Despite a brief ovation from the crowd when Osaka won a game to avoid a second-set whitewash, she ultimately lost by hitting a forehand long. Navarro, celebrating her best run at the All England Club, earned £143,000 ($182,150) for reaching the third round, a modest sum for the daughter of an American billionaire.
RADUCANU MARCHES AHEAD
Emma Raducanu powered into the third round of Wimbledon with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Belgian Elise Mertens on Wednesday. Raducanu, struggling with fitness since her 2021 U.S. Open triumph, looked dominant as she overwhelmed Mertens from the baseline. The British wildcard raced to a 5-0 lead under the closed roof of Court One, backed by a passionate home crowd. Mertens managed to avoid a first-set bagel, but Raducanu clinched the set comfortably.
In the second set, Raducanu broke in the third game with a brilliant backhand and again to lead 4-1. Despite Mertens holding to love, Raducanu sealed the match with an ace and a long return from the Belgian.
This marks Raducanu’s first third-round appearance at a Grand Slam since her U.S. Open win, sparking hopes of a British women’s singles triumph at Wimbledon since 1977. “I think I’m playing really good tennis. I’m really happy with the improvements I’ve made,” Raducanu said. “I knew all the hard work I was doing this year would lead to something. I’m just so happy I’m able to reap some of the rewards here at Wimbledon.”