Britain’s Emma Raducanu delivered an emotional 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-1 comeback over American Ann Li in her Lexus Eastbourne Open first-round match, thrilling a partisan crowd and signalling a timely return to form before Wimbledon. After dropping a tight tie-break, Raducanu adjusted her return position, attacked Li’s second serve and reeled off twelve of the last sixteen games. At the final handshake she wept openly, later telling press she was “proud to feel the fight again” following the back injury that forced a Berlin withdrawal. Source: talksport.com

The 22-year-old, seeded seventh and now ranked No. 38, credits lightened practice loads under consultant coach Mark Petchey for preserving her body while sharpening point-construction. Her victory keeps hopes alive of becoming Eastbourne’s first British women’s champion since 1975 and, more ambitiously, challenging for the Wimbledon second week—a feat unseen for a home player since 2021. Next up is Australian qualifier Maya Joint, whose flat groundstrokes could test Raducanu’s movement on slick grass. Tournament organisers confirm record day-one ticket sales, attributing the spike to Raducanu’s draw power and a stacked field that also features reigning Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova. With each match doubling as grass-court rehearsal, the Eastbourne narrative has pivoted from fitness doubts to a potential fairy-tale surge.