It’s only third round day, but the clash between Britain’s solitary active Grand Slam singles champion and rejuvenated superstar Emma Raducanu against the world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka has the feel of something much grander, a Wimbledon special.

Of course, that’s because whenever we watch Raducanu, it’s impossible not to reflect on her US Open title win of 2021 as being one of the most fantastical sports scripts ever penned and still wonder if and when she might offer up a sequel.

Just to remind ourselves of the original: 18 years old and ranked world No.150, triumphs at Flushing Meadows by coming through qualifying without dropping a single set in 10 matches.

So here’s the sequel – let’s call it The Emma Strikes Back – in which after injury woes, countless coaching changes and off-court pressures, she finds her mojo and smile again at Wimbledon 2025?

It was certainly hard to recall her seeming so gigglingly exultant – “I feel amazing!” – as after her superb win in the last round against 2023 champion Marketa Vondrousova, when she reckoned she’d played one of her best matches for ages.

Of course, Sabalenka, three-time Grand Slam champion and dominant force in the women’s game, is the overwhelming favourite, but maybe even she can afford to feel a little trepidatious.

“Emma is playing much better tennis since last year, she improved, you can see she's getting back on track,” she concedes. “Also facing British at Wimbledon, I'm not sure I prefer that!”

She has good reason to be concerned at a Championships which has already witnessed so many seeds being scattered across the Grounds.

Sabalenka, the last of the top five still standing, says it’s sad so many luminaries have already departed and adds a mite nervously: “I hope it’s no upsets any more in this tournament…” A rapt Centre Court, of course, may beg to differ.

Sonay Kartal’s rise is a very different, but just as warming, tale from that of her contemporary. A year older than Raducanu at 23, the bustling Brighton riser, who has reached the third round for the second straight year, was left reflecting on the tough journey to make it to the verge of the world’s top 50.

“Tennis is super expensive. Growing up, I did quite a lot of tournaments on my own just because I couldn't afford to pay a coach week in and week out. It helped me develop as a teenager, grow up super fast, made me much more mature, hold myself accountable to a lot of things,” she says.

Now it’s all paying dividends and she has a glorious opportunity to make the last 16 for the first time, even if it’s a tall order against French qualifier Diane Parry, on a high herself after defeating No.12 seed Diana Shnaider in the last round.

Cameron Norrie, reflecting on the pressure of his heyday as a top-tenner, admits he’s enjoying being the hunter, not the hunted, these days.

Yet after knocking out No.12 seed Frances Tiafoe, the 2022 semi-finalist is now back as favourite to reach the fourth round when he faces Italy’s world No.73 Mattia Bellucci on his beloved No.1 Court.

Carlos Alcaraz has been fretting about his serve, feeling it’s been a bit faulty in the opening two matches of his title defence. Yet he’ll be just as concerned about the mighty delivery of Jan-Lennard Struff, the 35-year-old who’s been banging down aces for fun here for a dozen years, including 10 more when beating No.25 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime in the last round.

Struff will recall how he stretched the then wonder boy to five sets when the pair battled on No.1 Court in 2022, but teenage Carlitos still smashed 30 aces past him. He's a bit better now, too.

Fiesta time is promised at No.2 Court. “Yeah, the Brazilians are loud. I know Chile fans, they're loud also. It's going to be nice!” beams Joao Fonseca, the brilliant boy from Rio de Janeiro, who’ll be the youngest man to reach the last 16 since 2011 if he beats Santiago’s Nicolas Jarry.

Finally, it’s US Independence Day, so quite fitting we have Taylor Fritz leading us off on Centre Court in what may be his year after a fourth Eastbourne crown and a tournament-leading 56 aces at Wimbledon.

He faces surging Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who may end up feeling the honeymoon really is over after getting married a couple of weeks ago.

Fritz’s first two matches went five sets, and this one might too. Yawn on the fourth of July? Not a chance.