Emma Raducanu storms into third round of Wimbledon with straight-set win over Mertens

Emma Raducanu has stormed into the third round of Wimbledon with a 6-1, 6-2 second-round victory over Elise Mertens, a former Top 15 player and the current world No. 1 in doubles.

And with that, Raducanu’s recent resurgence reaches a milestone: this is the first time she’s reached the third round of a Grand Slam tournament since she captured the 2021 US Open title.

The 21-year-old Brit had been to the second round of majors five times since then, but was stopped every time—until now.

RADUCANU'S CAREER RESULTS AT GRAND SLAMS:

• 4th Rd at 2021 Wimbledon [ret. vs. Tomljanovic]
• Won 2021 US Open
• 2nd Rd at 2022 Australian Open [l. to Kovinic]
• 2nd Rd at 2022 Roland Garros [l. to Sasnovich]
• 2nd Rd at 2022 Wimbledon [l. to Garcia]
• 1st Rd at 2022 US Open [l. to Cornet]
• 2nd Rd at 2023 Australian Open [l. to Gauff]
• 2nd Rd at 2024 Australian Open [l. to Wang]
• 3rd Rd at 2024 Wimbledon so far

Despite being ranked more than 100 spots lower than Mertens, No. 33 to No. 135, Raducanu was in charge from start to finish on No. 1 Court, racing out to a 5-0 lead en route to taking the first set, and—after Mertens held in the first game of the second set—winning another five games in a row to get within one game of victory.

Mertens held serve in the next game to snap the streak, but then Raducanu served it out, setting up match point with an ace and then closing it out after one last Mertens forehand sailed long.

Raducanu’s match stats were strong, as she finished with 22 winners to 14 unforced errors. She also held all eight of her service games in the match, fighting off both break points she faced.

Awaiting the Brit in the third round will be No. 9 seed Maria Sakkari, who downed Dutch lefty Arantxa Rus, 7-5, 6-3. Raducanu won the pair’s only meeting, 6-1, 6-4, in the semifinals of the 2021 US Open.