British number one Emma Raducanu is out of Wimbledon after falling agonisingly short of top seed Aryna Sabalenka in a gripping third-round match on Centre Court.
Raducanu, 22, put the three-time Grand Slam champion – and clear title favourite – under extreme pressure before succumbing to a 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 defeat.
“Emma played such incredible tennis and she pushed me really hard to get this win,” said 27-year-old Belarusian Sabalenka.
“I had to fight for every point to get this win.”
Raducanu, ranked 40th in the world, played with clarity and confidence throughout most of a captivating contest on Centre Court.
Had the 2021 US Open champion served out the opening set at 6-5, or converted a set point in the tie-break, the momentum of the lead might have carried her to a notable victory.
However, the deficit proved too much to overturn – even though Raducanu broke to lead 4-1 in the second set.
The long rallies she needed to break down Sabalenka eventually took their toll and Raducanu began to look fatigued as the favourite fought back.
Sabalenka, who is aiming for a first SW19 title, goes on to face Belgian 24th seed Elise Mertens in the fourth round on Sunday.