Emma Raducanu`s campaign at the Lexus Eastbourne Open concluded in the second round after a dramatic three-set defeat to Australian teenager Maya Joint. Despite a spirited comeback attempt, Raducanu was ultimately edged out by the 19-year-old.
Raducanu took the first set, but Joint responded strongly, claiming the next two sets and winning eleven of the following fourteen games to build a significant lead.
However, the British number one refused to give up. Facing a double-break deficit in the final set, Raducanu mounted a remarkable recovery, breaking Joint`s serve multiple times to force a decisive tie-breaker.
In the end, the rising star Joint held her nerve to prevail with a final score of 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-4), securing her spot in the quarter-finals at Devonshire Park.
The momentum shifted in the second set when Raducanu dropped her opening service game, allowing Joint to break and consolidate for a 3-0 lead. Raducanu struggled to hold serve thereafter, facing multiple break points before managing to secure her first game of the set.
Joint continued to pressure Raducanu`s serve, seeking a second break. While Raducanu attempted aggressive net play, errors crept into her game. A forehand error led to deuce, and another netted shot gave Joint a break point, which she successfully converted.
World number 51 Joint served out the second set comfortably. In the deciding set, the former US Open champion Raducanu appeared on the brink of defeat, trailing 5-2.
Yet, she produced an inspired passage of play, breaking Joint`s serve three consecutive times when the Australian was serving for the match, forcing the tie-break.
Raducanu even gained a mini-break to lead 4-3 in the tie-break, with victory seemingly within reach. However, Joint reeled off four straight points to clinch the match and deny Raducanu a fairytale comeback win.
Following her opening round win, Raducanu had mentioned receiving `some pretty bad news`, which may have contributed to her subdued demeanor on court and apparent fatigue towards the end of the match.
The 22-year-old will now travel to London to prepare for her Wimbledon campaign, the site of her memorable breakthrough in 2021. She will be a prominent home contender, aiming to become the first British women`s champion at Wimbledon since 1977.
Joint Reacts to Victory
“I try 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,” commented Joint after the match. She is set to face Anna Blinkova in the next round.
“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,” she added.
Burrage Falls in Contested Match Featuring Broken Net
Jodie Burrage was defeated in a hard-fought match against Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova, losing 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3). Krejcikova, who had also saved match points in her previous match, overcame the world number 164 in two hours and 26 minutes, despite seemingly struggling with a thigh issue.
The match featured an unusual delay for emergency net repairs. During the second set, a forehand from Krejcikova passed through a visible hole in the net and landed on Burrage`s side. Seeing the unexpected bounce, Burrage inspected the net and discovered the damage. In a display of sportsmanship, Krejcikova conceded the point. Ground staff were called onto the court to mend the net with thread and cable ties before the final set could begin.
“Another tough match,” said Krejcikova, a former French Open champion. “Brits know how to play on grass and it`s hard to play against them, but happy I`m through.”
“I was going through a difficult moment at the beginning of this year, but I`m happy I`m here and can keep finding the level that I know I can reach,” she commented on her form.
In the men`s tournament, lucky loser Billy Harris continued his run with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Mattia Bellucci. Dan Evans also impressed, securing his second top-20 victory in two weeks with a skilled grass-court performance against world number 13 Tommy Paul, winning 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals.
British Players Advance in Wimbledon Qualifying
Oliver Tarvet and Hamish Stewart are now one win away from qualifying for the Wimbledon main draw. Stewart, aged 25, has navigated a challenging path, coming through the wild card play-offs and benefiting from an opponent`s injury before winning a tough three-setter against Luca van Assche.
World number 550 Stewart will face Leandro Riedi for a place in the main draw. Joining him in the final round is 21-year-old Tarvet, ranked 719th. Tarvet, who plays college tennis in the US, has reached the final qualifying round without dropping a set, including victories over seeded players Terence Atmane and Alexis Galarneau.
Tarvet will need to overcome Alexander Blockx, the 29th seed, to secure his spot in the main draw. Meanwhile, Ryan Peniston`s qualifying bid ended with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 loss to young Spaniard Martin Landaluce.
