Emma Raducanu v Jessica Pegula LIVE: Tennis result and reaction after Briton’s impressive win at Eastbourne
Raducanu and fellow Briton Katie Boulter both reached the quarter-finals of the Rothesay International at Devonshire Park
Emma Raducanu secured one of the most "meaningful" wins of her career over world number five Jessica Pegula to reach the quarter-finals of the Rothesay International in Eastbourne
Raducanu followed up her stunning first-round win over fellow former US Open champion Sloane Stephens by digging deep to battle past American Pegula 4-6 7-6 (6) 7-5 after almost three hours in sweltering conditions. The American, who won the Berlin WTA title last week, had looked in control early on following two breaks as she opened up a 4-1 lead. Raducanu, though, rallied to pull back level at 4-4 only to then see her serve falter again as Pegula closed out the first set.
The match appeared to be running away from Raducanu - who missed the entire grass-court season last year due to wrist and ankle surgery - after she soon trailed 2-0 in the second set having again lost her opening service game. However, after finding her range from the back of the court and lifted by the home crowd, it was Pegula who started to wilt in the Eastbourne sun as Raducanu edged in front 4-3. Raducanu again dug deep to recover from 3-0 down in the tie-break to level the match as Pegula lashed another return into the net.
Remarkably, it was the first time in her career Raducanu had taken a set from a top-10 player and the 21-year-old built on the momentum into the deciding set as she broke twice to move 5-2 ahead. Pegula, though, refused to go quietly and forced a break back in the next game when Raducanu lashed a return wide.
After Pegula held, Raducanu had the chance to serve out for the match for a second time but the American went on to square things up again. Raducanu came to the net to wrap up another break and move 6-5 ahead, which left her again serving for the match. Pegula then saw three break point chances missed as Raducanu rallied from 0-40 before completing a remarkable fightback. Relive all the action from Eastbourne below:
Boulter wins first set!
Katie Boulter gets the job down, serving it out to take the first set 6-4. A big task now for the former French Open champion Ostapenko.
Katie Boulter makes fast start against Jelena Ostapenko
Katie Boulter is out on Centre Court right now and she has made a really positive start, breaking Ostapenko twice, although the Latvian has broken back once.
Boulter leads 5-3 as Ostapenko serves to keep the first set alive.
Yesterday: Boulter beats Martic to set up Ostapenko match
Elsewhere yesterday, Katie Boulter, who defeated Raducanu en route to retaining the Nottingham Open title earlier this month, overcame Petra Martic 6-1 7-6 (8) to set up a last-16 showdown with 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko.
British wildcard Yuriko Miyazaki was comprehensively beaten 6-1 6-2 by Belgium’s Elise Mertens.
Raducanu sends out defiant message after first-round win
Having opted to sit out Roland Garros, Raducanu built on her recent run to the semi-finals of the Nottingham Open with a victory she ranked among the best of her grass-court career.
The world No 168, who was later joined in round two of the Rothesay International by British number Katie Boulter, will next face American second seed Jessica Pegula.
Raducanu admits to previously feeling compelled to compete at every opportunity in the aftermath of clinching grand slam glory aged just 18.
“It’s pretty natural becoming a different person overnight almost with the circumstances, not necessarily myself, at such a young age,” she said.
“It’s easier to get caught up in it and at one point I was chasing playing too many tournaments and then I was just picking up niggle after niggle in every tournament because I never really gave myself any time to do the training.
“That is something I’ve done a lot better this year. Even though I might get challenged or questioned for not playing certain tournaments, like the French Open or the Olympics, that is just part of it, doing things at my own speed and how I want to, rather than how everyone else thinks is best for me.”
Raducanu sends out defiant message after first-round win
“I’m going to do things on my own time,” said Raducanu, who has been given a wildcard to compete at the All England Club next week. “I’m in no rush to do anything and everything I am doing and playing for now is for myself.
“Whether that’s tournament scheduling, whether that’s how much time I take off to train compared to compete, I think I’m just way more focused on my own lane and less susceptible to outside opinions or views. I’m just enjoying it, just doing everything for myself and really just being independent out here.”
Raducanu sends out defiant message after first-round win
Emma Raducanu is determined to operate on her own terms after defending her decision not to play the French Open or Paris Olympics following a stunning Eastbourne win over Sloane Stephens.
The ex-British No 1 on Monday declared herself back in love with the sport having struggled with injuries and form since being thrust into the spotlight by her shock US Open triumph in 2021.
Raducanu delivered in style on her Devonshire Park debut, producing a string of eye-catching winners to triumph 6-4 6-0 in a big-hitting first-round battle of former Flushing Meadows champions.
The 21-year-old, who missed the entire grass-court season last year due to wrist and ankle surgery, wrote “my own pace” on a television camera after making an impressive statement ahead of Wimbledon.
How to watch tennis at Eastbourne
Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the British grass court season live on the BBC, with coverage of Eastbourne on BBC Two from 1pm BST. A live stream wil be available via the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website.
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When is Emma Raducanu vs Jessica Pegula?
The second round match at Eastbourne is due to take this afternoon, and is the second match on Centre Court. It will follow the conclusion of Katie Boulter’s encounter with Jelena Ostapenko, which begins at 12.30pm BST.
Emma Raducanu v Jessica Pegula
Emma Raducanu continues her preparations for Wimbledon with a tough test against Jessica Pegula in Eastbourne.
Raducanu was in impressive form in dispatching fellow US Open winner Sloane Stephens in her opening test on the grass courts of the south coast, surging clear to a straight sets victory (6-4, 6-0).
It continued a promising start to the summer on the surface as the Brit gears up for a return to SW19 next week.
Second seed Pegula should provide another challenge at Devonshire Park with the American riding high after securing a first grass-court title in Berlin earlier in June.
Eastbourne tennis scores – live
Welcome along to live coverage from Eastbourne today as Britain’s Harriet Dart, Katie Boulter and Emma Raducanu all play in the round of 16.
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