Emma Raducanu vs Aryna Sabalenka - Wimbledon 2025 LIVE: Live score and game-by-game updates as British No 1 faces toughest test yet against world No 1

The intensity of this match is super high and right now that's favouring Raducanu.

Despite being made to run up 30-15, she holds her nerve to solidify the break.

This crowd are so loud. They are loving it!

Got her nose in front...

An overhead smash from Sabalenka gets this fifth game underway but Raducanu soon forces another error which generates a big cheer. 15-15.

A cheeky drop shot from the back of the court by Raducanu is bettered by a drop shot response by Sabalenka to go up 30-15.

Each of these Sabalenka service games are a grind and an overcooked crosscourt backhand - a fifth unforced error already from her - makes it 30-30.

There's a laser-like focus in Raducanu's eyes and a forehand winner down the line, with Sabalenka weighted to move in the other direction is a thing of beauty to set up another break point.

And yet Sabalenka just doles out an ace just like that. Deuce.

A further break point comes and goes - this time Sabalenka aggressively closing the space to play at the net - but a third in this game arrives when a redirected forehand down the line hits the top of the net.

And a backhand into the net after brilliant scurrying from Raducanu sees her BREAK.

Two straight serves that haven't come back to Raducanu equals two fistpumps.

This is an enormous match for her given her rough record against top 10 players.

A 110mph ace down the T to go up 40-0 is followed up by an unforced Sabalenka error, who plunders a backhand down the line and into the net.

2-2.

The beauty of these kind of matches is that it's often so chess-like early on.

Sabalenka is emotionless so far but she's held by dropping just one point on her serve in this game.

A quick sitdown at the changeover, a sip of her water bottle, and the job continues.

These two aren't messing around for timing here.

Sabalenka is still fine-tuning her power here and a wild forehand down the line goes well beyond that line to put Raducanu in control on her serve at 40-15.

A netted effort then seals the game as Raducanu holds with far more ease than her opponent.

We have ourselves a match.

The power Aryna Sabalenka can generate in her serve makes it such a potent weapon in the women's game and it's in full effect in this opening game of the match.

But Raducanu is able to combat it down 30-15 and the rallies are not what Sabalenka is looking for, eventually spraying a backhand long for 30-30.

A big serve out wide follows to make it 40-30 to Sabalenka but a skewed forehand that goes awkwardly awry puts Raducanu at deuce, with her first fistpump of the match in celebration.

A forehand winner from Raducanu on a second serve from Sabalenka gives her her first break point of the match but a vicious serve down the T rescues the world No 1. 40-40.

Two quick points and it's a first hold... but not easy for Sabalenka.

Never mind 8.15pm! It's show-time... Sablenka to serve.

When these two met at Indian Wells last year it was Aryna Sabalenka that came out on top, winning that one 6-3, 7-5 versus Raducanu.

A shot at redemption for the Brit, perhaps?

Loud cheers as the two players walk out onto court.

Closing the room will improve the atmosphere and that will work in Raducanu's favour.

But Sabalenka is unbelievable at the best of times and those times are now.

This could play out in so many different ways but I am excited.

Well, organisers have decided to close the roof of Centre Court which will, naturally, alter the conditions for both Emma Raducanu and Aryna Sabalenka.

By my estimate we're looking at around an 8:15pm start.

Raducanu got into the spirit of the women's Euros before her match this evening with a quick kick-a-bout... love that

To see British men's No 1 Jack Draper bow out last night should serve as a warning to Emma Raducanu, albeit she is up against even stiffer opposition.

My colleague MATTHEW LAMBWELL has written about how the idea British players are automatically great on grass is a myth - exposed by Draper losing to Marin Cilic.

The cheer that has just gone up was as much for Carlos Alcaraz winning as it was for the fact that Emma Raducanu is next... nobody wanted to see Alcaraz go to a fifth set.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of British No 1 Emma Raducanu facing World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka.

That, ladies and gentlemen, is box office stuff if I ever did see it.