With each Raducanu winner greeted by earth-shattering roars and every Sabalenka error wildly cheered by the masses, the Belarusian was left shaken and stirred as it appeared she would become the most high-profile name to join the exodus of Wimbledon seeds.

But just as spectators within Centre Court and thousands more packed on a heaving Henman Hill started to believe Raducanu had the momentum, and the weapons, to topple the top seed, Sabalenka's survival instincts kicked in and she secured a 7-6(6) 6-4 victory.

There are days when the final score does little justice to the drama that unfolded during two hours of pure theatre.

Anyone looking up the result would have no idea Raducanu was 4-2 up in the first set and held a 4-1 lead in the second. They would be equally clueless the 22-year-old saved seven set points with some incredible serving at 4-5 down in the first set.

The score also fails to convey that Raducanu served for the first set after breaking for a 6-5 lead and had a set point in the tiebreak. No one would guess she was a point away from grabbing a 5-1 lead in the second set after holding a break point in the sixth game.

Yet for all her heroics, getting over the finishing line proved a step too far for Raducanu.

--Reuters--