She still has a long way to go before the final, but whatever happens from here, this was a crucial victory for the world No. 1.

Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka staved off an upset bid by resurgent Emma Raducanu at Wimbledon by beating the home favorite 7-6 (6), 6-4 in the third-round at a raucous Centre Court on Friday night. Sabalenka,

Emma Raducanu 's bid for the Wimbledon fourth round could not have stumbled upon a higher hurdle as the Brit takes on world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka on Centre Court. Raducanu has been in fine form since the start of this year's Championships, comfortably beating Mimi Xu and Marketa Vondrousova by identical 6-3 6-3 scorelines.