Emma Raducanu fought back tears after a dramatic comeback win against Ann Li in the first round of the Eastbourne Open. In a gritty performance marked by fluctuating momentum and challenging weather, Raducanu recovered from a set down to defeat the American 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-1 in just over two hours.
The British No 1, who had recently been managing a back problem and missed the Berlin Open, appeared physically strong despite a fall early in the match. After narrowly losing the opening set in a tiebreak, she raised her game from the midpoint of the second set, delivering increasingly aggressive and precise shot-making. Her performance culminated in a sharp backhand winner that sealed the match and brought an emotional reaction as she acknowledged the support of the home crowd.
Raducanu expressed her joy after the victory, noting the intensity of the contest and the boost she received from fans during difficult spells. She highlighted the mental and physical effort required to overturn the match after dropping the first set and emphasized how proud she was of her resilience. Her reward is a second-round encounter with Australian teenager Maya Joint, who shocked two-time Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur in the opening round.
Elsewhere in the women’s draw, Harriet Dart came agonizingly close to pulling off a major upset against reigning Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova. After multiple rain delays disrupted the rhythm of the match, Dart fought valiantly and had two match points on her own serve in the third set. However, Krejcikova’s experience prevailed, and she edged the match 6-3, 6-7 (4), 7-5 after two hours and 40 minutes of fierce competition.
Dart, clearly frustrated by the missed opportunity, let out a scream as her lead slipped away. Despite the defeat, she remained upbeat about her performance, noting a significant improvement in form compared to recent weeks. She emphasized that the match showcased her ability to compete at a high level, particularly against a top-20 opponent with multiple Grand Slam titles.
Dart’s level was evident throughout the contest, as she matched Krejcikova stroke for stroke and even dictated large portions of play. It was only in the final moments, with the match on the line, that the Czech star found her composure and capitalized on Dart’s narrow misses.
Krejcikova will face another Briton, Jodie Burrage, in the second round after Burrage cruised past Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2.
In the men’s draw, British qualifier George Loffhagen pushed Reilly Opelka to the brink but ultimately fell 7-6 (6), 3-6, 7-6 (1) in a match that featured minimal margin for error. The powerful serving of Opelka proved decisive in the final-set tiebreak, ending Loffhagen’s spirited campaign.
