World No 1 wins 7-6 (6), 6-4 in third round
British player served for first set and led 4-1 in second
For a few glorious, fleeting moments late on Friday evening, as 15,000 spectators collectively lost their minds, something special was unfolding under the Centre Court roof. Not only was Emma Raducanu holding her own against Aryna Sabalenka, she was soaring. An hour into one of the most intense, fast-paced sets of her life, Raducanu arrived at set point against the best player in the world.
But Sabalenka, the world No 1, has long grown accustomed to dealing with that massive target on her back, which so often spurs her opponents to perform far above their usual level. In the face of a grand slam champion playing some of her very best tennis, Sabalenka elevated her game to even greater heights in the decisive moments, crushing Raducanu’s hopes of a statement win by closing out an intense, unforgettable tussle with a 7-6 (6), 6-4 win to reach the fourth round.
After coming so close to truly disrupting such a special opponent, Raducanu’s first thoughts will be of her painful disappointment after she was unable to take the many chances she brilliantly earned. Raducanu served for the first set at 6-5, then she held a set point at 6-5 in the tiebreak. In the second set, Raducanu then held a break point for a 5-1 second-set lead. But every time she established a lead, Sabalenka reeled her back in.
Still, her career against the elite has largely been a series of disappointing performances bereft of confidence and quality. Here Raducanu rose to the occasion spectacularly at the urging of her home crowd, demonstrating the full capabilities of her well-rounded game, her improved serve and forehand, and her heart as she pushed Sabalenka hard for two hours.
As Raducanu walked out on to Centre Court far later than expected on Friday evening, her eyes scanning all corners of the stadium, she steadied herself for one of the most significant occasions of her career. With the exception of her US Open triumph nearly four years ago, Raducanu has still not contested many matches with the emotional significance of facing the world No 1 at Wimbledon on home soil.
© Photograph: Stéphanie Lecocq/Reuters
© Photograph: Stéphanie Lecocq/Reuters
Up to 10in of rain fell overnight, prompting flash flooding in region west of Austin hit by long drought
At least six people are dead in south-central Texas after heavy rains produced a “catastrophic flooding event”, as authorities said that 23 people were also missing from a girls’ camp that was hit by the flash flooding.
The region was beset by death and disaster on Friday after months’ worth of heavy rain fell in a matter of hours, leaving search teams to conduct boat and helicopter rescues in the fast-moving water that overtook riverfront communities and children’s summer camps.
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© Photograph: AP
© Photograph: AP
As Jule Brand collected the ball on the turn on the corner of the box with her back to goal, she knew the assignment. Germany needed something special to break through Poland’s stubborn resistance. Within a blink of an eye, the net was bulging and Germany were making a winning start to their campaign.
A well-coached Poland side can be proud of their performance but, once Brand’s stunning strike went in in the 52nd minute, the result looked inevitable and Lea Schüller headed in Germany’s second to give them a perfect springboard to the tournament.
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© Photograph: Stéphane Mahé/Reuters
© Photograph: Stéphane Mahé/Reuters
India lead 2-1 in five-match series
When Nat Sciver-Brunt was named as England captain in April, her teammate Tammy Beaumont might have had cause to feel slight disappointment at being overlooked, given her own success at the helm of Welsh Fire.
But at the Oval on Friday evening, with Sciver-Brunt out of the third Twenty20 international against India due to a groin injury, Beaumont finally got the chance to lead the side, and managed a feat that has so far eluded Sciver-Brunt – a win against India, albeit by the skin of their teeth.
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© Photograph: Steven Paston/PA
© Photograph: Steven Paston/PA
England’s keeper came in on a hat-trick, hit his first ball for four and never stopped battering India’s bowlers
It started in the worst possible way. By the second over of the day England were 84 for five, five hundred runs and a thousand miles behind. Their best batter, Joe Root had just been caught off the ninth ball of the morning, and their captain, Ben Stokes, who has worked so many miracles for them before, had been caught off the 10th, done by a wicked, lifting delivery, nasty, brutish and short, which brushed off his glove on its way through to the keeper.
The bowler, Mohammad Siraj, was on a hat-trick, and here comes England’s No 7, Jamie Smith, 24 years old, playing his 19th Test innings.
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© Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty Images
© Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty Images
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The bill passed Thursday with a narrow margin in the House of Representatives
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Editorial: Despite a tumultuous and, at times, disappointing first year in office, Keir Starmer remains the best person for the job, streets ahead of any alternative leader who might theoretically replace him. But now he needs to rewire his relationship with the British people
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Three trade deals, five U-turns, 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence, eight ministerial resignations, 49 welfare rebels, record small boat crossings – the statistics behind Keir Starmer’s first year as prime minister
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As Sir Keir Starmer marks a year since his huge general election victory, he still has a lot to prove if he wants to continue being prime minister, writes David Maddox
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