Emma Raducanu’s recent surge in form on the grass is gathering momentum after she recorded her best-ever win over a player in terms of ranking at the Eastbourne International.
The 21-year-old Brit upset second seed and last week’s Berlin Open champion Jessica Pegula 4-6, 7-6 (6), 7-5, after almost three hours of play in the hot weather. It is the first time Raducanu has defeated a top 10 player on the Tour, which is a remarkable statistic for a player who won their maiden Grand Slam title two-and-a-half years ago. Against Pegula, she battled back from a set and a break down before going on to save a match point in the decisive tiebreaker.
Raducanu’s latest milestone occurs during what is an encouraging start to her grasscourt campaign. Last week she reached the semi-finals of the Nottingham Open in what was her best result at a WTA event since September 2022. Unlike others on the Tour, she opted not to play in the French Open last month and instead underwent a training block.
“I am pretty drained right now but I just want to say thanks to everyone again for getting me through some really difficultmoments in that match,” Raducanu said during her on-court interview.
“It is incredibly difficult when you are playing someone so in form like Jessica. She came off the back of a great run in Berlin and no doubt she is feeling confident on the grass.
“I am really pleased with how I managed to navigate some really tough situations and I didn’t think I would be able to get myself out of it, so I would say this match is one of the more meaningful ones to me. I have been going through some stuff, so to come through has been really nice.”
The triumph makes Raducanu one of three British payers to reach the quarter-final stages in Eastbourne. Something that hasn’t happened in the tournament for 40 years. Harriet Dart beat Sofia Kenin 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-0. Meanwhile, Katie Boulter knocked out world No.13 Jelena Ostapenko 6-4, 7-5.
“It is really good healthy competition,” Raducanu commented on the trio of home victories.
“We all see each other progressing into the next round and just want to join them – no one wants to be left behind. That is the way it should be, pushing each other, and that is definitely the case now in the men and women. We are all doing really well, especially on the grass.
“We all come alive on this surface, so I am very pleased and it is a testament to how we have been training and putting training in. Contrary to some beliefs about us I think we are all doing a pretty good job.”
Raducanu will next play Daria Kasatkina, who defeated China’s Yue Yuan 3-6, 6-4, 6-0, in her second round match.
