Emma Raducanu has conjured up one of her biggest ever career wins (Picture: PA)
Emma Raducanu produced a brilliant comeback win over world No.5 Jessica Pegula at the Eastbourne International on Wednesday ahead of Wimbledon – the first time she has ever defeated a player inside the top 10.
The British tennis star faced a tough second-round match against the American but managed to conjure up a superb 4-6 7-6 (8-6) 7-5 victory, a result which books her a spot in the last eight, in her last event before Wimbledon 2024.
Raducanu went into the clash as an underdog – and her win is a huge boost ahead of her home Grand Slam, which starts on Monday, July 1 – where she is desperate for a deep run after missing the Championships in 2023 due to injury.
The 2021 US Open winner, ranked as high as world No.10 two years ago, is currently down at No.168 and needed a wildcard to avoid Wimbledon qualifying. Before this match, she had never even taken a set off a player inside the top 10.
Raducanu, who skipped this year’s French Open to focus on the grass-court season and lost to British No.1 Katie Boulter in the Nottingham Open semi-finals earlier this month, got off to a nightmare start as Pegula broke her in the first game of the first set and followed it up with a hold to lead 2-0.
The Briton held herself – but Pegula was barely breaking a sweat in her own early service games – with a hold-to-love in game four keeping her ahead in the match.
Pegula extended her lead with her second break of the afternoon, much to the dismay and disappointment of the British crowd backing Raducanu in Eastbourne.
Jessica Pegula recently clinched the Berlin Ladies Open title (Picture: AFP)
Raducanu badly needed to find a spark – and that’s exactly what she did – as she bagged her first break with a sumptuous volley against second-seed Pegula.
That got the crowd excited and it put the fire firmly back in Raducanu’s belly as the 21-year-old broke her older opponent yet again to level it up at 4-4.
A tense game nine put Pegula back in control, though, with her third break of the match then followed up with a hold to narrowly take the first set 6-4.
Pegula started the second set the same as the first, with a break-and-hold combo setting up a 2-0 lead and Raducanu unable to register a hold until game three.
How about that from Emma Raducanu! ð¤©#BBCTennis | #Eastbourne pic.twitter.com/kYXAX14fXb
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) June 26, 2024
The duo traded service games and in game six of the second set, Raducanu conjured up a break to level it up at 3-3 and keep her hopes of a comeback alive.
The Brit and the American continued to hold their nerve on serve until a dramatic game 10 which saw Raducanu earn herself a …read more
Source:: Metro
