Emma Raducanu Survives Eastbourne Epic against Jessica Pegula
Locker Room
June 27, 2024
Emma Raducanu and Jessica Pegula are ready to sprinkle their stardust over Wimbledon 2024.
The British and American players have just created an Eastbourne epic in the English sunshine.
And this classic confrontation will whet the appetite for the biggest tournament of them all next week.
Emma Raducanu and Jessica Pegula can both go deep at Wimbledon 2024. And the signs suggest they will both hit the ground running.
Both women look battle-hardened and ready to go. Raducanu had to save a match point against her rival from the USA. She also served three times for the match.
Finally the resurgent Brit closed out in two hours and forty-four minutes. That set up a showdown with Daria Kasatkina later today.
At one point Emma looked down and out. She lost the first set despite clawing her way back into contention from 1-4. Then she was broken early in the second.
Even Emma later admitted she had doubts at that stage. She worried she might not be able to extricate herself from that ominous situation.
But Raducanu was cheered on by a big crowd in Sussex. Their encouragement help her to storm back to win 4-6, 7-6 (8-6), 7-5.
This was her first big victory against a top ten player. But Pegula was on fire for long periods too. The showdown with Raducanu could have gone either way.
Jessica just claimed a title on grass in Berlin. She will surely remain confident that she can make a big impact on Wimbledon 2024.
Emma Raducanu and Jessica Pegula are set to draw huge crowds at Wimbledon 2024. The iconic Centre Court is waiting to stage more classic matches next week.
For now Emma is just thrilled to have come through such a big test. Her recent return to form continues.
‘This was one of the more meaningful matches for me. I have been through some stuff,’ Raducanu admitted emotionally.
Emma has had her critics. But when Raducanu gets on a roll at a Grand Slam there is sometimes no stopping her. She won the US Open in 2021 all the way from the qualifying stage.
She is loved as a tennis superstar on both sides of the Atlantic and has become a celebrity beyond the sport itself.
But American fans will be thrilled that Pegula has finally found her feet on grass too. And they will arrive at Wimbledon 2024 in great numbers to support Jessica and her compatriot Coco Gauff.
Emma Raducanu will light up Centre Court at Wimbledon 2024. She may have to beat the mighty Americans if she wants to land another major, though.
Will you be at Wimbledon 2024? Hollywood stars and British royalty love this glamorous fortnight at the All England Club. It’s the summer social event of the year in the English capital.
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This is one of the great sporting shows on earth. You can already feel the sense of anticipation in London.