Emma Raducanu leads British charge with stunning win over Jessica Pegula in Eastbourne

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Emma Raducanu proved her power on the grass court with a rousing victory that saw her through to the quarter-finals of the LTA’s Rothesay International Eastbourne.

The 21-year-old suffered a double break down, losing the first set against world number 5 Jessica Pegula, but the former British number 1 fought back determinedly to take the second with a tie-break, saving a match point in the second set . process.

In the crucial third, Raducanu put in a strong performance to break Pegula in as many games, using the court in style.

And the Bromley ace stormed home from there, recording a 4-6 7-6 (8-6) 7-5 victory for her first ever victory over a top 10 opponent.

She said: “I’m quite exhausted at the moment but I’d like to thank everyone for helping me through some really tough moments in that match.

“It’s incredibly difficult when you play against someone who is in such good shape. Jessica came off a great run in Berlin, no doubt feeling confident on the grass.

“I’m very happy with the way I got through some difficult situations. This match is one of the most meaningful for me.”

Raducanu faces another tough test against sixth seed Daria Kasatkina in the last eight, but the wildcard will be full of confidence after a gripping second-round success.

Since the tournament’s inception fifty years ago in 1974, it is only the second time that three or more British players have reached the quarter-finals on the south coast, with Anne Hobbs, Virginia Wade and Michelle Tyler all reaching the last eight in 1978.

Katie Boulter and Harriet Dart joined Raducanu in the women’s singles, while Billy Harris also secured his last eight spot in the men’s singles.

Harris put in a solid performance to continue his whirlwind summer and make back-to-back quarter-finals on the ATP Tour after a dream quarter-final at the LTA’s Cinch Championships last week.

The Manx tennis prodigy’s meteoric rise continued at Eastbourne – only his third ATP Tour event – as he came from a set down to win 3-6 6-2 6-2 against compatriot and lucky loser Charles Broom.

In the last eight, Harris will face Flavio Cobolli, who defeated Giles Hussey after the biggest win of the Briton’s career in the first round.

British number 1 Boulter recorded a tough victory against former Eastbourne champion Elena Ostapenko. Leicester’s golden girl broke the world number 13 early before earning a hard-fought first set.

At the start of the second the pair exchanged breaks and Ostapenko came back, but Boulter held her nerve to win 6-4 7-5.

Boulter said: “That feels great. I have always come to this tournament and absolutely loved playing here. The more wins I can get the better, especially with Wimbledon just around the corner.”

Boulter will face third seed Jasmine Paolini in the last eight in a bid to book her place in the semi-finals after the Italian eliminated Belgium’s Elise Mertens.

British No. 2 and wildcard player Dart was set to draw with world No. 4 Elena Rybakina, but the 2022 Wimbledon champion withdrew earlier this week.

Against 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin, Dart got a set-up before falling on the wrong side of a tie-break.

She came back in the decider to advance to the quarter-finals by taking the third and winning 6-3 6-7 (3-7) 6-0.

Top men’s singles player Taylor Fritz took to the south coast courts for the first time, beating Thiago Seyboth Wild in straight sets 7-6(4) 6-3.

In the men’s doubles, Liverpool’s Neal Skupski and Michael Venus, after a stunning run after winning the Queen’s doubles title, reached the last four with a straight-sets victory over Mariano Navone and Sebastian Baez.

For the latest action on the British summer grass season, check out the LTA website