EASTBOURNE: Emma Raducanu registered her first top-10 win at the Eastbourne International on Wednesday, saving a match point to upset second seed Jessica Pegula as she cruised past Madison Keys.
Raducanu, a former US Open champion, held his nerve to win 4-6, 7-6 (8/6), 7-5 with a second set break to level the match against his American opponent. identification.
Raducanu said earlier this week that he was not interested in tennis, having struggled with injuries and form since he grabbed the spotlight with a surprise victory at Flushing Meadows in 2021.
The 21-year-old, who missed the grassroots season after surgery last year, opted not to compete at the French Open or the Paris Olympics, but has a wild card for Wimbledon, which starts next week.
Raducanu, who saved a break point in the second set, appeared to be on course for a 5-2 lead in the third set, but Pegula, who won the opener last week in Berlin, twice broke level.
The former British number 1, now ranked 168th in the world, fought back from the break and survived a set break to seal her victory and set up a quarter-final against Daria Kasatkina.
“It’s hard when you play someone like Jessica,” Raducanu said.
“He came out of a good rear in Berlin, he is definitely sure of the fire, but I am very happy with how I went through a difficult situation and to be honest
“I would say this game is one of the more meaningful games for me…. It’s really good to pass.”
Defending champion and fourth seed Keys defeated Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina 7-6 (7/5), 6-1.
The American will next face 2023 French Open finalist Karolina Muchova, who is playing her first tournament in nine months, after the Czech lost 6-4, 6-1 to Polish top seed Magda Linette.
England’s Katie Boulter continued her impressive form on fire with a 6-4, 7-5 win over fifth seed and former champion Jelena Ostapenko.
The Englishman, who won the tournament in Nottingham earlier this month, will play third seed Paoli in the next round.
In the men’s event, Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic defeated third seed Aleksandar Bublik 6-4, 6-4 and fourth seed Sebastian Baez defeated Miomir Kekmanovic.
Chinese teenager Shang Juncheng defeated Finland’s Emil Ruusvuori 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 and will meet top seed and two-time former American champion Taylor Fritz, who beat Tiago Seiboth Wild 7-6 (7/) 4), 6 – 3. APPLICATION
