On a windswept court at Devonshire Park, Emma Raducanu delivered a performance that was as much about heart as it was about skill, battling back from a set down to defeat American Ann Li 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-1 in the first round of the Eastbourne Open. The 22-year-old British number one, visibly emotional after sealing the victory with a stunning backhand winner, fought through physical challenges and swirling seaside conditions to keep her Wimbledon preparations firmly on track. This hard-fought triumph, lasting two hours and 18 minutes, showcased Raducanu’s resilience and set up an intriguing second-round clash with Australian teenager Maya Joint.
The match began under testing circumstances, with blustery winds making every point a battle. Raducanu, ranked world No. 38, fell behind 3-0 early in the first set and struggled with a lingering back issue that has plagued her since Strasbourg before the French Open. A slip on the grass in the 11th game forced her to stretch out her leg, raising concerns about her fitness. Despite clawing back to level the set and leading 5-3 in the tiebreak, Raducanu couldn’t close it out, as Li, ranked No. 64, capitalized to take the opener. “It was tough, it was up and down,” Raducanu reflected in her on-court interview, her voice tinged with emotion. “But from the middle of the second set, I think I found another gear and another level.”
The second set was a rollercoaster, with Li breaking Raducanu’s serve immediately, only to hand the break back with a sloppy game. Raducanu, buoyed by the vocal support of the home crowd and encouragement from her corner—where friend and fellow player Fran Jones shouted, “Radders, get after it!”—began to assert herself. Saving four break points and capitalizing on her opportunities, she edged ahead 4-2, then restored her advantage at 5-3 after a chaotic exchange of breaks. This momentum proved decisive, as Raducanu won 10 of the final 12 games, dominating the third set with a 4-1 lead before closing out the match convincingly. “I want to thank the crowd for getting me through some really sticky moments,” she said, her eyes welling up. “It really meant a lot to me, and I’m really proud of how I fought back after losing the first set.”
Raducanu’s emotional response was amplified by personal challenges, as she revealed setting aside “some pretty bad news” to compete. Her back issue, which forced her withdrawal from last week’s Berlin Open and required an off-court medical timeout during her Queen’s Club quarterfinal loss to Zheng Qinwen, remains a concern. Yet, aside from the early slip, she appeared to move freely, a positive sign as Wimbledon looms on June 30. “It was a physically demanding match,” Raducanu noted. “In the wind, you’re constantly trying to adjust. We had some long rallies, I was running a lot. I feel OK, a little bit of fatigue, a bit of stiffness, but I need to just see how I feel tomorrow.”
This victory marks Raducanu’s 16th win of 2025 and bolsters her confidence on grass, a surface where she has twice reached Wimbledon’s fourth round since her 2021 debut. Her recent Queen’s Club quarterfinal run, which saw her reclaim the British No. 1 ranking for the first time in two years, underscored her grass-court prowess. Now, as the seventh seed in Eastbourne, she faces 19-year-old Joint, who stunned two-time Wimbledon runner-up Ons Jabeur in the first round. “I feel incredible,” Raducanu said, crediting her collaboration with coach Mark Petchey. “It’s working really well. I’m looking forward to playing tomorrow, and looking forward to Wimbledon as well.”
The Eastbourne Open has already seen dramatic moments, with British No. 4 Harriet Dart narrowly missing an upset against reigning Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova, and Jodie Burrage advancing to face Krejcikova in round two. Raducanu’s performance, however, stole the spotlight, her grit and determination resonating with fans. As she navigates injury concerns and the pressure of expectations following her 2021 US Open triumph, this comeback victory signals a player finding her form at a critical juncture. With Wimbledon just days away, Raducanu’s emotional Eastbourne triumph offers a glimpse of the tenacity that could carry her deep into the Championships.
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