Teary Raducanu avoids Eastbourne upset in three-set battle

Emma Raducanu avoided an upset at Eastbourne as the newly minted British No1 skirted past world No64 Ann Li 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-1, and appeared close to tears as she gave an emotional interview on Centre Court. 

‘I feel incredible. I just want to thank the crowd, for getting me through some really sticky moments,’ she said, clearly overcome and wiping her face. ‘It meant a lot to me, and I’m so proud of how I fought back. 

‘It was a tough match. Ann was hitting winners, and it was obviously very windy. I’m just very, very proud to have come through.’ 

The first-round win sets up a meeting with world No51 Maya Joint but the drawn-up battle amid the cold and swirling seaside winds while managing an injury will hardly represent ideal preparation for the British star. 

Raducanu has been plagued by a persistent back issue for the grass-court season but despite an interruption to her pre-tournament preparations, looked some way back to her brightest at Queen’s two weeks ago. 

Just as her quarter-final defeat to the tournament’s number-one seed Zheng Qinwen seemed like a strong set-up for another consecutive good run of form in Berlin however, the 22-year-old was forced to withdraw from the tournament in a bid to manage another flare-up. 

Admitting ahead of Eastbourne that she was still trying to navigate ‘good days and bad days’, the Briton seemed set for one at the lower end of that spectrum as Li galloped to a 3-0 lead in the opening 12 minutes of the match. 

But something that has improved with Raducanu’s increased playing time this season is her grit; head down, and hitting against a strong south-coast wind, she clawed her way back to all square and continued to keep pace with a confident Li. 

Vital, perhaps, was a new ‘coach’ in her corner – her friend and peer Fran Jones sitting alongside Mark Petchy the day before her own Eastbourne clash. 

Both Petchey and Jones were in full voice as Raducanu raised her level, with the latter calling for ‘Radders’ to ‘get after it’ – advice that preceded a much-needed hold to bring up five-all. 

Despite playing herself into the match well, Raducanu did not look at her most free and limber, not least after she slipped and fell on the baseline towards the end of the first set. It took some time before Raducanu got gingerly back on her feet, and at times appeared to clutch her hip. It did not help that the match was a physical one, with Raducanu forced to stoop to power back Li’s low, wind-whipped shots. 

After forcing the tiebreak, Raducanu finally got herself back on top with a 5-3 lead before Li was given a helping hand by a drop shot which fell millimetres short of crossing the net. From there, the 24-year-old clawed back momentum, and claimed the first set. 

After the break Raducanu and Li traded breaks of each other’s game, the former increasingly pushed to the limits on serve. But Raducanu held admirably, looking far from her fluid best but grimly aware of that she would be forced to win ugly. 

Relief that came in the sixth game with a second break for the Briton was short-lived, as Li immediately broke back, both players’ service games consistently tested by the elements. But better was the sweetly struck forehand passing winner that helped secure Raducanu’s hold a game later, allowing her to try and see out the set on her own racquet. 

Raducanu did so at pace, and from there turned up the pressure as she swiped the the opening break after a cagey four exchanges of deuce and advantage. Her next hold was pleasingly rote and as Raducanu imposed herself more and more on her opponent, her play more open-stanced and confident. In the end, it had been one of the good days.