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Emma Raducanu, once hailed as one of the brightest prospects in women's tennis, made a triumphant return on the grass courts of Eastbourne, UK. In a gripping match, Raducanu ousted the tournament favorite, Jessica Pegula, with a scoreline of 4-6, 7-6 (6), 7-5.

Raducanu's Remarkable Comeback

The match lasted for two hours and 45 minutes, showcasing some of the best grass-court tennis. Raducanu, who is currently ranked 168th in the WTA, displayed incredible resilience. After losing the first set, she faced a match point in the second set tiebreak but managed to turn the tables.

"I just kept fighting and believed in my game. It wasn't easy, but the support from the crowd really pushed me," said Raducanu.

Pegula's Missed Opportunities

Pegula, ranked 5th in the WTA, had previously defeated Raducanu in their only other meeting at Cincinnati 2022. She came into the match after a strong showing in Berlin. However, she couldn't capitalize on her opportunities, especially when she had a match point in the second set.

The Decisive Third Set

In the third set, Raducanu surged to a 5-2 lead, only to see Pegula claw back to 5-5. Raducanu then broke Pegula's serve and faced a daunting 0-40 on her serve but managed to save four break points and clinched the match on her first match point.

Looking Ahead

Raducanu will face Daria Kasatkina, the 14th seed, in the quarterfinals. Kasatkina overcame China's Yue Yuan with a comeback of her own, winning 3-6, 6-4, 6-0. The tournament continues to see exciting matches, with Leylah Fernandez and Harriet Dart also advancing to the next round.

Editor: Emiliia Morozova