Emma Raducanu was beaten in the second round at the Eastbourne Open in a thrilling contest with Australian tennager Maya Joint who clinched a third set tie break to win 4-6 6-1 7-6 (7-4).
The British No.1 never truly found her best form in the match but doggedly stuck to her task in the opening set to overcome an early break and take advantage of Joint’s scattered play to clinch it 6-4.
But, the Australian upped her level massively in the second set and scored over 80% of points from her first serve and over 70% on her second. Her backhand was on fire and Raducanu was blown away.
The Brit took her time to recover from that onslaught in the third set. Joint swept quickly to a 5-2 lead but Raducanu dug deep and discovered some Andy Murray-esque levels of determination and grit to rattle off three games in a row and break Joint’s serve at 5-6 to force the tie break.
Raducanu scored the first mini break but a couple of wayward forehands went long, as they had been doing throughout, and Joint secured her win with an ace. Raducanu’s focus goes to Wimbledon now but she can take positives from her mental fortitude to make this match a close one.
Relive the action from the Eastbourne Open with our live blog below:
Emma Raducanu v Maya Joint live
- Emma Raducanu beaten by Maya Joint in the round of 16 at the Eastbourne Open
- Raducanu fought back from 5-2 down in third set to force tie break
- GAME, SET & MATCH! Joint wins tie break to advance to next round
- SECOND SET! Joint perfectly fights back to force deciding set
- FIRST SET! Raducanu breaks three times before clinching close set
Emma Raducanu beaten in Eastbourne thriller despite final set fightback
17:10 , Mike JonesEmma Raducanu’s attempt at a miraculous recovery against Maya Joint fell just short as she exited the Eastbourne Open.
The British No.1 looked dead and buried in her second-round battle with the Australian, trailing 5-2 in the deciding set.
But she produced an inspired spell, breaking Joint three times when she was serving for the match, to set up a tie break.
Emma Raducanu beaten in Eastbourne thriller despite final set fightback
Things to work on for Raducanu
16:38 , Mike JonesEmma Raducanu only won six of the 14 break points she created today.
That means there is plenty of scope for improvement ahead of Wimbledon next week but she shouldn’t be too hard on herself.
Joint was a superb opponent and one of the rising stars in the women’s game.
Raducanu has also been worried about a back issue and looked as though she didn’t want to risk a reoccurance. Her fitness should be better at SW19 where she can go all out.
Joint's post match reaction
16:36 , Mike Jones"Today was really tough, there were a lot of ups and downs and momentum switches. I was really glad I could tough it out in the end. The atmosphere was amazing.
"I definitely remember that match [playing Raducanu in Rome], it was a fun match so I was looking forward to today.
"I tried to hit the lines, it doesn't always work. I'm an aggressive player, I like to use my backhand and I'm trying to learn to play on all courts."
GAME, SET & MATCH! Emma Raducanu 6-4 1-6 6-7 (4-7) Maya Joint
16:25 , Mike JonesRaducanu goes long with a forehand from the baseline and now there’s match points.
Joint has two of them.
She only needs one! An ace down the centre line gets her over the line but that was some fightback from Emma Raducanu!
Emma Raducanu 6-4 1-6 6-6 (4-5) Maya Joint*
16:23 , Mike JonesNo! A forehand from Raducanu goes long this time and the tie break is still on serve.
Until it isn’t! Raducanu looks for the cross court drop shot. She hits it well but clips the tape and the ball drops back onto her side of court!
*Emma Raducanu 6-4 1-6 6-6 (4-3) Maya Joint
16:22 , Mike JonesNo worries from Joint who serves wide then unloads on a driving forehand to draw level at 3-3.
Raducanu gets the mini break!
Joint whips a forehand too long. Can Raducanu capitalise?
Emma Raducanu 6-4 1-6 6-6 (3-2) Maya Joint*
16:21 , Mike JonesTwo serves for Raducanu now.
She drops to second serve with her first attempt and manages to get a backhand over the net. Joint pushes the forehand into the net.
Raducanu then forces another error as Joint punches a forehand long!
*Emma Raducanu 6-4 1-6 6-6 (1-2) Maya Joint
16:19 , Mike JonesUnbelievable.
This match could go either way. First blood in the tie break goes to Raducanu and the crowd are fully backing her now.
From Maya Joint’s serve, Raducanu can’t return a wide serve and then drills a backhand too wide.
Joint leads.
BREAK! *Emma Raducanu 6-4 1-6 6-6 Maya Joint
16:17 , Mike JonesMaya Joint has had two previous attempts to close out this match.
She failed both times but takes the first point in this game.
A low forehand gives Raducanu the next point though and the Australian then lifts a shot from the baseline too long.
Raducanu leads 15-30 and moves further ahead as Maya Joint smokes a backhand long.
Two break points for Raducanu. She takes the first one!
Raducanu breaks and this match is going to a tie breaker!
BREAK! Emma Raducanu 6-4 1-6 5-6 Maya Joint*
16:13 , Mike JonesRaducanu has won three games in a row and has the chance to move ahead from her own serve.
She finds the net in the first rally and that’s a bit of reprieve for Maya Joint.
Joint has shaken off the cobwebs and is being encouraged to go after it. That advice helps her win the first couple of points from Raducanu’s serve.
The Brit then pushes a forehand into the net and offers up three break points.
She saves the first with a fabulous serve... she can’t save the second!
*Emma Raducanu 6-4 1-6 5-5 Maya Joint
16:10 , Mike JonesMaya Joint begins her second attempt to serve out the match.
Raducanu goes for broke and smokes back a return take the first point.
The Australian then comes up to the net and is met by a blistering backhand. She volleys back a shot but sends it wide.
Raducanu leads 0-30, sorry, make that 0-40 as the Brit holds her ground and forces Joint deep. The Australian lifts a forehand too long and there are three break points to save.
She can’t do it! Raducanu breaks again and the third set is back on serve!
Emma Raducanu 6-4 1-6 4-5 Maya Joint*
16:06 , Mike JonesEmma Raducanu is still in the last chance saloon and must win the next two games to keep this match alive.
She begins with a couple of strong serves that helps her to 30-0.
Joint fights back with a couple of points of her own but Raducanu is up to 40 first.
Joint returns the serve and looks to be forcing the rally, she goes after a forehand but lands it too long!
Raducanu has another game back.
*Emma Raducanu 6-4 1-6 3-5 Maya Joint
16:02 , Mike JonesNow then. Maya Joint may be creaking a touch under the pressure to win.
Emma Raducanu moves to a 0-30 lead but the Australian smokes a high forehand past the Brit.
Joint then goes long with a backhand down the line and Raducanu has a couple of break points again.
Raducanu breaks!
Emma Raducanu 6-4 1-6 2-5 Maya Joint*
15:58 , Mike JonesMaya Joint lands a stellar forehand down the line to move to advantage and challenge the serve.
Raducanu misses her first serve and has to battle. She goes for a forehand winner but sends it long!
Joint has a double break and is now serving to win the match.
*Emma Raducanu 6-4 1-6 2-4 Maya Joint
15:54 , Mike JonesOh no. A couple of errors from Emma Raducanu puts Maya Joint up to a 0-30 lead.
Raducanu serves down the T line and makes Joint stretch for the return which fails to get over the net.
A second excellent serve gets brings her parity at 30-30 before a battle of backhands is won by the Brit. Raducanu switches it up first with a forehand to the baseline before attacking the net and volleying the winner.
Raducanu can’t hold though and we’re up to deuce.
*Emma Raducanu 6-4 1-6 2-4 Maya Joint
15:50 , Mike JonesJoint stands with her hands on her hips as she drives a forehand too long.
Raducanu has a third break point in the game but a highly bouncing ball gifts Joint a perfect set up for a cross court driving forehand.
Oh wow. Joint takes care of her service game with another superb backhand down the line.
Raducanu had her chances but the Australian was too good.
Emma Raducanu 6-4 1-6 2-3 Maya Joint*
15:46 , Mike JonesIs this the moment for Raducanu?
She powers her way to 15-30 and extends that lead as Maya Joint whips a forehand over the back of the baseline.
There are two break points to play with for the Brit but a fine serve down the line from Joint allows the Australian to save the first.
Joint then serves wide and goes down the line with a backhand to save the second break point too!
Deuce.
Emma Raducanu 6-4 1-6 2-3 Maya Joint*
15:42 , Mike JonesBang! Raducanu draws Joint forward with a drop shot then smokes a backhand winner past the Australian to secure her hold of serve.
This set is still alive.
*Emma Raducanu 6-4 1-6 1-3 Maya Joint
15:39 , Mike JonesTwo fine serves from Raducanu sees Joint fail to get a return back.
A well struck backhand from the Brit then collides with the net and puts Joint on the board in this game.
It also gets the crowd clapping their support for Raducanu.
An error from Joint helps Raducanu to nudge further ahead again.
She then lofts a backhand too long before Joint reaches deuce as Raducanu lifts a forehand long of the baseline.
*Emma Raducanu 6-4 1-6 1-3 Maya Joint
15:36 , Mike JonesThat’s just ruthless. Before Raducanu can blink she finds herself 40-0 down.
That’s happening too often on Joint’s serve and the Australian holds to 15.
She’s one game closer to winning this match now and all the pressure is on Raducanu.
Emma Raducanu 6-4 1-6 1-2 Maya Joint*
15:31 , Mike JonesLovely from Raducanu. She’s on the back foot in the match now but strides forward and drives a backhand volley past Joint.
When the Australian pushes a return too long, Raducanu moves to 40-15.
Joint bullies a forehand past her opponent in the next rally though.
Raducanu holds as Joint finds the net. Can she force a comeback?
*Emma Raducanu 6-4 1-6 0-2 Maya Joint
15:28 , Mike JonesTo compound matters, Joint is offering almost nothing from her own serve meaning Raducanu is just flailing around trying to get a foothold in this match.
Joint sweeps to a 40-0 lead but goes wide with a backhand to allow Raducanu a route back into the game.
A serve down the middle devolves into a backhand rally which Raducanu comes out on top of.
At 40-30, Joint serves to Raducanu’s forehand, the Brit gets the return back then unloads on a cross court shot only to find the net.
BREAK! Emma Raducanu 6-4 1-6 0-1 Maya Joint*
15:25 , Mike JonesAlright then. Let’s see if Emma Raducanu can get back into this match after a poor second set.
She has the first serve and starts well before Maya Joint lands a superb backhand down the line to draw level at 15-15.
Oh wow. Maya Joint’s backhand has gone up to another level.
She’s landing it with regularity and Raducanu is struggling to cope.
The Australian secures another break of serve!
SET! Emma Raducanu 6-4 1-6 Maya Joint
15:19 , Mike JonesRaducanu gives up the set as Joint flies through to a perfect hold of serve.
This match is going to be decided in a third set.
BREAK! Emma Raducanu 6-4 1-5 Maya Joint*
15:17 , Mike JonesMaya Joint is massively in the flow here.
She moves from deuce to a break of serve in two rallies with Emma Raducanu making unforced errors.
The Australian is on the verge of forcing a third set.
Emma Raducanu 6-4 1-4 Maya Joint*
15:15 , Mike JonesRaducanu needs to rattle off another couple of service holds before getting to attack Joint’s.
It might not get her back into this set but it could give her a bit of rhythm ahead of a potential third set.
Raducanu takes a 30-0 lead with two strong serves before a soft backhand gives a point away.
A mistimed volley from the net goes long and Joint moves to 30-30.
Raducanu comes forward again and drives a volley from the net this time to move ahead again.
Raducanu then attempts to go down the line and blazes her forehand long! Deuce.
*Emma Raducanu 6-4 1-4 Maya Joint
15:09 , Mike JonesAt some point Emma Raducanu needs to break Maya Joint’s serve if she wants to win this second set.
This isn’t the game for that.
Joint mix things up and rapidly gets up to 40-0 before Raducanu initiates a fightback.
It doesn’t last long and Joint holds to 15.
Emma Raducanu 6-4 1-3 Maya*
15:06 , Mike JonesRaducanu is on the verge of conceding a double break as Joint lands a winner right on the line.
Trying to save break point, Raducanu serves wide to the forehand then whips a shot to the opposite side of court.
Joint sprints across but can’t keep her return in play. Back to deuce.
Joint is doing her best to get another break here, clawing Raducanu back from advantage a couple of times.
The longest game of the match so far ends with the Australian floating an attempted drop shot into the net.
Raducanu holds!
*Emma Raducanu 6-4 0-3 Maya Joint
14:59 , Mike JonesRaducanu is facing a potentially sticky wicket here to borrow a bit of cricket terminology.
Down a break in the second set and her opponent is striking the ball better.
Joint moves 15-30 ahead as Raducanu drills a backhand into the net.
An ambitious forehand from the Aussie goes wide though which allows Raducanu to rediscover some mojo.
She punts a cross court forehand past Joint but a backhand slice goes long.
Deuce.
*Emma Raducanu 6-4 0-3 Maya Joint
14:54 , Mike JonesEmma Raducanu was in this exact position in the first set before going on to win.
She tries to drive a forehand down the line but finds the net in the first rally of the next game.
An overhead high volley draws her level and leaves Joint on the turf.
The Australian regains her focus but Raducanu manages to score a passing winner and force the game to 30-30.
A couple of wild forehands from Raducanu gifts the game to Joint who is firmly in control of the second set now.
BREAK! Emma Raducanu 6-4 0-2 Maya Joint*
14:50 , Mike JonesRaducanu finds the net and puts Joint to advantage giving her a break point.
She takes it!
Raducanu goes long with a forehand and Joint gets her break.
*Emma Raducanu 6-4 0-1 Maya Joint
14:49 , Mike JonesJoint tries to make inroads into the Raducanu serve only on in this set.
At 30-30, a drop shot attempt from the Australian is smoked back by a low Raducanu backhand to take her within a point of holding.
But, a wayward forehand from the Brit allows Joint to reach deuce.
*Emma Raducanu 6-4 0-1 Maya Joint
14:44 , Mike JonesJust like the first set, Maya Joint has the opening service game.
She gets off to a fine start with a forceful driving forehand that wins the first rally.
Joint goes on to clinch a hold and looks to have already reset from that opening set defeat.
SET! Emma Raducanu 6-4 Maya Joint*
14:39 , Mike JonesVery impressive from Raducanu who is forcing a few more errors from Joint now that the pressure is on.
The Brit moves quickly to a 40-15 lead and serves out to Joint’s forehand.
A loopy return comes back and Raducanu drills her return down the line with a strong backhand.
Joint gets to it but lofts the ball out of play.
Raducanu takes the opening set!
BREAK! Emma Raducanu 5-4 Maya Joint*
14:34 , Mike JonesRaducanu is first up to advantage after bullying a second serve from Joint.
The Australian bites back though with some heavy forehand hitting.
Wonderful! Raducanu blazes through the next two rallies, taking both points on offer, and breaks for a third time in this set.
She’s now serving to close it out!
Emma Raducanu 4-4 Maya Joint*
14:31 , Mike Jones‘Come on!’ yells Raducanu to herself as she edges 15-30 ahead.
The Brit then fails to take advantage after sprinting up to a drop shot. She manages to set Joint up for a cross court passing winner which brings the game level again.
Raducanu then pushes a forehand too long. Joint wants to close this out but Raducanu bullies her around the baseline before unloading on a backhand to force the game to deuce.
BREAK! Emma Raducanu 4-4 Maya Joint*
14:28 , Mike JonesA double fault and a poor net approach from Raducanu puts Joint 15-30 ahead.
The Australian then fails to return the next serve and Raducanu moves level.
From 30-30, Raducanu serves wide to the forehand before Joint drills the ball into the net and gets it to drop onto the Brit’s side of court.
A break point for the Australian is drilled to Raducanu’s backhand. She floats it high but Joint smashes back the winner.
We’re back on serve!
BREAK! *Emma Raducanu 4-3 Maya Joint
14:23 , Mike JonesRaducanu drops a shot of the net from a return of serve and takes a point before immediately giving it back with a backhand into the net.
The Australian then sags as a forehand is punched too long. The door is slightly ajar for Raducanu at 15-30.
It swings open as Joint pushes another shot into the net.
With two break points to play with Raducanu goes for an aggressive forehand and finds the tape in her first attempt.
In her second effort she gets Joint running side-to-side and a backhanded slice is too soft for the Australian to hook back into play.
Raducanu leads!
Emma Raducanu 3-3 Maya Joint*
14:20 , Mike Jones40-0 for Raducanu becomes 40-30 as Maya Joint dials in when returning the serve.
Raducanu serves to the forehand and sets it up for Joint. She looks to drive one inside-out but just gets the accuracy long and lands it wide.
Raducanu holds!
*Emma Raducanu 2-3 Maya Joint
14:14 , Mike JonesMaya Joint has found a bit of rhythm here and flies through the next game for a perfect hold to love.
This is already shaping up to be a cracking match.
Emma Raducanu 2-2 Maya Joint*
14:12 , Mike JonesEmma Raducanu got to the quarter-finals at Queen’s Club in his first grass court tournament of the season.
She’s aiming to do the same here and opens a 30-15 lead in the fourth game of the first set.
A serve down the centre line is pushed back by Joint who sends it too long.
Raducanu attempts to hold serve with a serve to the body but Joint punches a firm backhand return at her and the Brit’s sliced response finds the net.
Next up her serve lands on the T line and Joint get reach it. Raducanu holds!
BREAK! *Emma Raducanu 1-2 Maya Joint
14:08 , Mike JonesBig response from Raducanu! From deuce she goes bang, bang and secures an immediate break back.
The first set is back on serve.
Emma Raducanu 0-2 Maya Joint*
14:06 , Mike JonesThat’s not the start that Emma Raducanu would have been hoping for but Maya Joint is playing well.
That said, she starts off her next service game with a double fault before floating a sliced forehand over the baseline.
Raducanu sets up a couple of break points but the first is saved by Joint smoking a cross court forehand past her opponent.
The second is saved too! Raducanu drills a backhand down the middle but gets it to land just past the baseline.
Deuce.
BREAK! Emma Raducanu 0-2 Maya Joint*
14:03 , Mike JonesOkay, what can Raducanu muster from her own serve?
If that first game is anything to go by this is going to be a long match.
The Brit begins with a serve to the forehand which is pumped long.
Maya Joint responds by winning the next two points before hooking a forehand well over the back of the baseline.
At 30-30, Joint clips the tape with a drop shot and opens up a break point of her own...
... and she takes it!
*Emma Raducanu 0-1 Maya Joint
13:58 , Mike JonesA blistering backhand from Raducanu forces Joint long and sets up the first break point of the match.
Joint saves it by drilling a backhand down the line to take the game back to deuce.
Joint manages to get over the line and the first game is a hold of serve for the 19-year-old.
Emma Raducanu 0-0 Maya Joint*
13:54 , Mike JonesJoint takes the first point of the match as Raducanu sweeps a low backhand into the net.
The next rally goes to the Brit after some nice backhand play. Joint sends a shot too long to get Raducanu on the board.
Both players trade points again to take the game to 30-30 and put a bit of pressure on Joint’s serve.
The Australian then unleashes on a powerful forehand which beats Raducanu and offers up the chance to hold serve.
Joint can’t take it. Deuce.
Emma Raducanu 0-0 Maya Joint*
13:51 , Mike JonesEmma Raducanu won the toss and chose to receive the first serve.
These two women met earlier this season in Rome with Raducanu coming through that one successfully.
Can she do so again on the grass court?
Emma Raducanu v Maya Joint
13:45 , Mike JonesThe two players are introduced onto Centre Court at Eastbourne.
Maya Joint heads out first before the British crowd gives Emma Raducanu a loud round of applause.
They’ll be backing the Brit to get the job done this afternoon.
First though the players need to go through a few warm ups.
Jodie Burrage beaten in tie break
13:43 , Mike JonesAn astonishing final set from Jodie Burrage sees her, once more, come from a break down to lead 6-5.
She has three match points which Barbora Krejcikova manages to save to force a tie break.
From there though, the Wimbeldon champion is in complete control and the Czech manages to get over the line!
Wimbledon warmup event turns sour in fiery exchange
13:30 , Holly BishopTwo rival tennis players clashed during a Wimbledon warmup, with winner Maria Sakkari telling Yulia Putintseva that “nobody likes her” in a heated row.
The pair faced off in the first round of the Bad Homburg Open in Germany on Sunday (22 June), with world No3 Sakkari winning 7-5 7-6.
The umpire tried to calm the pair down, but Sakkari fired back, repeatedly saying: “Nobody likes you!” as Putintseva walked off the court.
Alcaraz on playing US Open doubles with Raducanu
13:24 , Mike Jones“She’s going to be the boss!” Carlos Alcaraz replied when asked for his thoughts on playing with Emma Raducanu at the US Open doubles tournament.
He added: “The US Open came to us and gave us the opportunity to play mixed doubles and I’m super excited about it. It’s going to be great.
“I’ve known Emma a really long time and I have a really good relationship with her, it’s going to be interesting. The tournament told us about the mixed tournament and I was thinking it couldn’t be better than Emma.
“I asked Emma if she wanted to play doubles with me and yeah, I made that special request.”
Raducanu praises Wimbledon over stalker’s bid to buy tickets
13:18 , Mike JonesEmma Raducanu has praised Wimbledon after a man who has been stalking her was banned from buying tickets for this year’s championships.
The former US Open champion hailed the All England Club’s “amazing job,” after intercepting an attempt from the man who had been following her at several events over the last year.
“Wimbledon did an amazing job. I got a notification and the police contacted me and assured me that everything was okay,” Raducanu revealed.
French Open breakout star Lois Boisson sees Wimbledon hopes dashed
13:12 , Will CastleRoland Garros surprise package Lois Boisson will not get the chance to emulate her heroics at Wimbledon after seeing her hopes of a first main-draw appearance end abruptly in qualifying.
Boisson, 22, stunned the world in a storybook run to the French Open semi-finals, doing so as a 361st-ranked wildcard.
French Open breakout star Lois Boisson sees Wimbledon hopes dashed
How to watch Wimbledon on TV
13:06 , Mike JonesWimbledon will be shown on the BBC in the UK, with full coverage of the tournament available to watch on BBC One, BBC Two and across BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.
TNT Sports will air a daily 90-minute highlights show and will also have live coverage of both singles finals.
When does Wimbledon 2025 start?
13:00 , Mike JonesThe 2025 Championships start on Monday 30 June and will finish on Sunday 13 July.
Play will start at 11am (BST) on all the outside courts, with Court 1 starting at 1pm and Centre Court at 1:30pm.
As tradition dictates, Carlos Alcaraz, the defending men’s singles champion, will open the tournament on Centre Court on Monday 30 June.
Barbora Krejcikova, the defending women’s singles champion, will open Centre Court proceedings on Tuesday 1 July.
When does Wimbledon 2025 start?
12:54 , Mike JonesThe 2025 Championships at Wimbledon are upon us as the All England Club opens its doors to the tennis world once again.
Carlos Alcaraz is eyeing a third consecutive title in SW19, and is also looking to become the second player to win Roland Garros, Queen’s and Wimbledon in the same year. World No 1 Jannik Sinner and British No 1 Jack Draper are the other favourites in the men’s draw.
World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka is the favourite for the women’s title, with 2022 champion Elena Rybakina and French Open winner Coco Gauff also leading contenders. Czech player Barbora Krejcikova is the defending champion.
Emma Raducanu, who is set to miss out on a seeding, leads the British contingent in the women’s draw, having overtaken Katie Boulter as British No 1 recently.
Wimbledon semi-finalist Donna Vekic: ‘I always have a heartbreaker on the grass’
12:48 , Kieran JacksonIt was one of those Wimbledon matches that took your breath away. The emotional peaks and troughs of elite-level sport, played out in front of an enthralled Centre Court crowd, on a bright afternoon in July. A record-setter, too: at two hours and 51 minutes, the longest semi-final at the All England Club in the 147-year history of the ladies’ singles competition.
Yet for Donna Vekic, disconsolate after missing out on a first Grand Slam final, her agonising defeat to Jasmine Paolini last year is not a contest she wants to witness again. Particularly now, ahead of another tilt in SW19.
Wimbledon semi-finalist Donna Vekic: ‘I always have a heartbreaker on the grass’
Britain’s leading trio have more on the line than just pride at Wimbledon
12:42 , Mike JonesBritain’s leading women will have an extra incentive to perform strongly at Wimbledon over the next fortnight.
While motivation for a home grand slam is usually a given, there is a battle at the top of the game in this country which is driving Britain’s main trio forward.
And, unlike in previous generations, when competition on the court often resulted in strained relations off it, Katie Boulter, Emma Raducanu and Sonay Kartal are proving that rivalry really can be friendly.
Britain’s leading trio have more on the line than just pride at Wimbledon
Jodie Burrage levels the match
12:40 , Mike JonesWe’ll have to wait a little longer before Emma Raducanu takes to court as Jodie Burrage had fought from a set and a break down to win the second set against Barbora Krejcikova!
Raducanu among 10 to watch at Wimbledon
12:37 , Mike JonesFor Raducanu they added: “Now back at the top of the British rankings, Raducanu is playing probably some of her best tennis since her remarkable US Open triumph in 2021 – although that bar is quite low after a turbulent few years.
“The 22-year-old is having to manage a back problem, but her informal coaching arrangement with Mark Petchey appears to be working.”
Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu among 10 to watch at Wimbledon
12:33 , Mike JonesThe PA news agency broke down the 10 players to keep an eye on at Wimbledon this year with both Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu on the list.
Of Draper they wrote: “Britain’s great hope will go into his home slam seeded fourth after a stellar start to the season, winning a maiden Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells, reaching another final in Madrid and the semi-finals at Queen’s.
“Now free of the fitness issues which dogged his formative years, Draper is one of the most feared players on the ATP Tour and is desperate to emulate Andy Murray and claim the Wimbledon crown.”
Raducanu's back problem
12:28 , Mike JonesEmma Raducanu is competing for the first time since Queen's, having pulled out of last week's Berlin Open as she continues to manage a back problem.
There were no signs of the issue during her win over Li but she’ll want to remain fit ahead of the start of Wimbledon next week.
Raducanu on defeating Ann Li
12:24 , Mike Jones“It feels incredible. I want to thank the crowd for getting me through some really sticky moments,” the former US Open champion said in her on-court interview after her first round victory.
“It really meant a lot to me and I’m really proud of how I fought back after losing the first set. I’m very, very happy to come through that.
“It was tough, it was up and down, but from the middle of the second set I think I found another gear and another level.”
Emma Raducanu emotional after comeback victory at Eastbourne: ‘It meant a lot to me’
12:20 , Mike JonesEmma Raducanu fought back tears after resuming her Wimbledon preparations by battling back from a set down to beat American Ann Li in the first round of the Eastbourne Open.
Amid blustery conditions, the British number one, who missed last week’s Berlin Open as she managed a back problem, triumphed 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-1.
Emma Raducanu emotional after comeback victory at Eastbourne: ‘It meant a lot to me’
Good afternoon!
12:14 , Mike JonesWelcome to The Independent’s coverage of today’s action from the Eastbourne Open where Emma Raducanu continues her Wimbledon preparations.
She’s into the second round having fought through a tough opening match and will take on Australia’s Maya Joint.
The pair’s match is up second on Centre Court and they should be taking to the grass in around half an hours time depending on the earlier match between Jodie Burrage and Barbora Krejcikova.
We’ll have all the action and updates throughout the afternoon so stick around to see if the British No.1 can reach the quarter-finals.
