"I'm drained... I didn't think I'd be able to get myself out of it" - Emma Raducanu after defeating Jessica Pegula to reach Eastbourne QF
Emma Raducanu notched her first career win over a top-10 player, defeating Jessica Pegula in the second round of the 2024 Eastbourne International. The Brit came through in three sets, 4-6, 7-6(6), and 7-5, in a match that spanned two days.
Raducanu, who is playing in her second grasscourt tournament of the season, saved a match point to upset the recently crowned Berlin champion. Pleasantly surprised by her victory, the youngster, during her on-court interview, said that she was “pretty drained” and did not see herself beating an in-form Pegula. She went on to express satisfaction with the way she was able to navigate herself to a victory.
"I'm pretty drained right now," Emma Raducanu said. "It's incredibly difficult when you're playing someone who's so in-form like [Jessica Pegula]."
"She came off the back of a great run in Berlin, and no doubt she's feeling confident on the grass, but I'm really pleased with how I managed to navigate some really tough situations, and to be honest, I didn't think I'd be able to get myself out of it," she added.
Raducanu said the win, her first over an opponent ranked inside the top-10, was “more meaningful” before reiterating the joy at having come through the battle.
"I would say this match is one of the more meaningful ones to me. ... To come through, it's been really nice," Emma Raducanu said.
"We all come alive on this surface" - Emma Raducanu on Brits doing well on grass after Jessica Pegula upset at Eastbourne
Emma Raducanu is among three Britons who have made it through to the quarterfinals at Eastbourne. The youngster viewed the development positively, saying that the “healthy competition” was pushing them to do better.
Much like Raducanu, who upset a higher-ranked opponent, the other two Britons also claimed big scalps in the form of Grand Slam champions. While Nottingham champ Katie Boulter ousted Jelena Ostapenko, Harriet Dart got the better of Sofia Kenin.
"It's really good, healthy competition. We all see each other progressing into the next round and we all just want to join them. No one wants to be left behind," Raducanu said. "That's the way that it should be: We should be pushing each other, and I think that's definitely the case right now," Raducanu said.
Raducanu stated that the Britons tend to “come alive” on grass, given that they practice on it most often. Notably, over half the Tour-level events on grass are held in the United Kingdom.
"We all come alive on this surface... it's just a testament to how well we've been training and how hard we've been putting work in," she added.
Raducanu will take on another big name in the form of sixth seed Daria Kasatkina for a spot in the Eastbourne semifinal.