In the windswept courts of Devonshire Park, Emma Raducanu’s 2025 Lexus Eastbourne Open campaign began with a victory that was as much a test of heart as it was of skill. The 22-year-old British tennis star, battling personal turmoil and a nagging back injury, staged a dramatic comeback against American Ann Li, winning 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-1 in a grueling two-hour, 18-minute match. Her tearful celebration, triggered by “some really bad news” received before the match, captured the attention of fans and players alike, including Australian tennis maverick Nick Kyrgios, who sent a succinct yet powerful message of support. Commenting on Raducanu’s Instagram post, which featured a dove emoji and a highlight of her match, Kyrgios wrote, “Get it,” a nod to her resilience ahead of Wimbledon.
Raducanu’s journey at Eastbourne was fraught with challenges. Trailing 3-0 in the first set and struggling with blustery conditions, she fought back only to lose a tight tiebreak after leading 5-3. “Mentally, in the first set, I wasn’t really present,” she admitted, revealing the emotional weight she carried. The news, which she preferred to keep private—“I’d prefer to not go into it, if that’s OK”—left her visibly shaken, yet she found solace in the support of her friend and Billie Jean King Cup teammate Fran Jones, who was courtside alongside coach Mark Petchey. “Fran was there for me because she’s a good friend of mine, so she knows what’s going on behind the scenes,” Raducanu said, crediting Jones’ presence for helping her regroup. A lighter moment came when a seagull swooped across her eyeline during a serve, prompting laughter from the crowd and a playful Instagram caption from the WTA: “Welcome to the seaside 🌊.”
Kyrgios’ encouragement reflects a longstanding camaraderie between the two. Despite his own absence from Wimbledon 2025 due to persistent wrist and ankle injuries, the 29-year-old has consistently championed Raducanu. In 2022, when Raducanu tweeted support for Kyrgios’ Wimbledon semi-final run, she faced backlash due to his off-court controversies, yet she stood by him. “To me, he’s always been very kind and generous,” she said then, noting his defense of her against criticism from retired players. More recently, at the 2025 Miami Open, Kyrgios praised her resilience amid coaching upheavals, tweeting, “People awfully quiet that Raducanu is winning now. Where all the experts at now? Lol coach’s overrated.” His latest message at Eastbourne reinforces this bond, offering a boost as Raducanu navigates a pivotal moment in her career.
Raducanu’s victory, sealed with a stunning backhand winner, marked her seventh consecutive first-round win on the WTA Tour, a testament to her growing consistency. “I feel incredible,” she told the crowd, her voice cracking. “I just want to thank you for getting me through some really sticky moments.” Despite a back issue that forced her withdrawal from the Berlin Open and required a medical timeout at Queen’s Club, she showed physical resilience, overcoming a slip on the grass and adapting to the wind. Her performance builds on a solid grass season, including a quarter-final run at Queen’s, where she regained the British number one ranking. Now ranked world number 38, Raducanu faces Australian teenager Maya Joint in the second round, a rematch of their 2025 Italian Open clash, which Raducanu won 7-5, 6-7(1), 6-3.
As Wimbledon looms on June 30, Raducanu’s emotional Eastbourne win, bolstered by Kyrgios’ support, signals her readiness to chase a deep run at the All England Club, where she reached the fourth round in 2021 and 2024. With Jones and Petchey in her corner and a nation rallying behind her, Raducanu’s tears of struggle may yet turn to tears of triumph.
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