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.

Emma Raducanu's Wimbledon dream ended on Friday after she was beaten by Aryna Sabalenka in the third round, but the Brit has the backing of tennis' elite to win more Grand Slam titles in the future