Remember last year’s US Open SF? Aryna Sabalenka took on Emma Navarro under the bright lights of Arthur Ashe, battling not just her opponent but the roaring home crowd. The tension peaked in the second-set tie-break, where she trailed 0-2 before storming back to win, and cheekily jabbed at the crowd afterward: “Well guys, now you’re cheering for me. I mean, it’s a bit too late.” Fast forward to this year’s third-round showdown at Wimbledon, Sabalenka faced yet another hometown hero in Emma Raducanu. But this time, after enduring the passionate British fans, she made a raw and honest comparison between the American and British crowd.

Right after her gritty win under the bright Centre Court lights, Aryna Sabalenka faced the inevitable question: how did she handle the roaring English crowd backing Emma Raducanu? With honesty and grace, the Belarusian ace praised both her opponent and the atmosphere. “First of all, she played incredible level and secondly, the crowd. I mean I played enough in the in the States against American and there it’s like super crazy and honestly I’m super grateful that people were respectful and really polite during the points and even though they were cheering her for her between the points during the point, I was able to focus and they were really polite once again,” she said, drawing a stark contrast between past battles in America and this one.

But Sabalenka didn’t just survive the moment; she thrived in it. She admitted that the respectful nature of the crowd played a crucial role in her ability to stay dialed in during those brutal rallies. “So, I think that’s really helped me to stay in the game and to be there to fight for every point, and I’m super happy that I was able to be that focused,” she added, proud and battle-tested.

For a few electric minutes late on Friday night, under the glow of Centre Court’s roof and in front of 15,000 breathless fans, something extraordinary was building. It had all the makings of a Wimbledon classic. The crowd roared like thunder, fueling a belief that they might witness another miracle. Emma Raducanu, Britain’s own, ranked No. 40 in the world, wasn’t rattled. She stood firm, just as she had when she stunned 2023 Wimbledon champion Markéta Vondroušová earlier in the week. That win was no fluke, Vondroušová had recently taken down Aryna Sabalenka in Berlin. And now, Raducanu was ready to go toe-to-toe with the world No. 1.

Sabalenka’s credentials are undeniable, but cracks had recently appeared in high-pressure moments. Her heartbreaking loss to Coco Gauff at the French Open final raised questions, particularly about how the noise of a partisan crowd affects her. The US Open final in 2023 told a similar story, up a set, Sabalenka folded under the weight of crowd support for Gauff. And now, with Centre Court erupting around her, all eyes were on how the Belarusian would respond again.

No British woman had defeated a top seed at Wimbledon since 1977. History didn’t favor Raducanu, but odds have never meant much to the 2021 US Open champion who lifted the trophy as an 18-year-old qualifier. She needed to strike early and bring the crowd into play. And she did. A quick break, a 4-2 lead, Centre Court was rocking. But Sabalenka stormed back with eight straight points, flipping the scoreboard to 5-4 and testing Raducanu’s steel.

What came next was unforgettable. One of the most dramatic games in Centre Court history unfolded, with Sabalenka earning 7 set points. Raducanu saved them all, five with ferocious serves that forced misfires. The crowd’s roar when she held serve shook the stadium, a deafening echo threatening to burst beyond the 11 pm curfew. When Raducanu broke again for a 6-5 lead, the noise soared. It felt like déjà vu, just like in 2015 when Heather Watson nearly toppled Serena Williams in this very setting.

“Wow,” Sabalenka said, stunned by the noise in her post-match interview. “My ears are still hurting.” Later, in her press conference, she revealed her mental strategy: “I was just trying to hold myself, hold my emotions,” echoing Novak Djokovic’s famous trick of pretending cheers for his opponent were meant for him.

Now, Sabalenka marches into the fourth round, having silenced Centre Court and shattered a nation’s hopes. But for Raducanu, the heartbreak ran deeper. In the aftermath, she raised serious questions about one of this year’s biggest changes: Wimbledon’s debut of the fairly new system. 

Emma Raducanu criticizes Wimbledon’s change after heartbreaking loss

At just 22 years old, Emma Raducanu delivered a performance brimming with grit and fire, pushing three-time GS champion and top seed Aryna Sabalenka to the very edge. In a fiercely contested clash, Raducanu went toe-to-toe with the Belarusian before eventually falling short in a high-octane battle that had Centre Court on its feet. But the drama didn’t stop at match point. In her post-match press conference, the 2021 US Open champion didn’t hold back when asked about Wimbledon’s newest change: AI-powered electronic line calling.

Raducanu’s frustration bubbled to the surface when she reflected on a crucial call in the first set. “I mean that call that was like for sure out. It’s kind of, you know, disappointing, you know, the tournament here that the calls can be so wrong, but you know, for the most part, they’ve been okay,” she said. “It’s just like I’ve had a few in my other matches, too, that have been very wrong. So yeah, I don’t know. Hopefully, they can kind of fix that.”

That pivotal moment came at 2-4, 15-0 when Sabalenka’s serve appeared to miss the line on replay. Raducanu turned to the chair umpire and asked, “You saw it out as well, right?” But the point stood, allowing Sabalenka to pounce on a short return and fire a forehand winner, swinging the momentum her way. It was a small call with big consequences, and for Raducanu, it felt like the match tilted from there.

With her Wimbledon run now over, Raducanu’s resurgence on grass still left British fans with renewed hope, especially with New York looming ahead. 

Meanwhile, Sabalenka, battle-tested and fired up, charges into the 4th round. After two Slam heartbreaks, could this be her time to silence the noise and conquer the draw?