A tearful Emma Raducanu rallied back brilliantly from a set down to defeat American Ann Li 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-1 and reach the second round of the Lexus Eastbourne Open.

Raducanu battled back after losing a tight opening set against the world No 64, who was runner-up at the 2017 Wimbledon Championships girls’ singles final.

After sealing victory on her fourth match point, the British No 1 and seventh seed at Devonshire Park, dropped her racket before letting out her emotions.

“I feel incredible,” said Raducanu, who will be back in action on Wednesday against world No 51 Maya Joint. “I just want to thank the crowd for getting me through some really sticky moments. It really meant a lot to me and I’m really kind of proud of how I fought back after losing the first set and it was a tough match. Ann was hitting winners from all over the place and it was obviously very windy, but I’m just very, very happy to come through that so thank you.

“It was up and down but from the middle of the second set I found an extra gear, I found an extra level, and I’m really proud of how I came through that.”

On working with coach Mark Petchey, Raducanu added: “It’s working really well. I had head coach Fran Jones and assistant coach Mark Petchey out there today but it was really nice to have a lot of support. It’s been going well with Mark and I’m looking forward to playing tomorrow and looking forward to Wimbledon as well.”

Tale of the Tape

Dart blows match points in defeat to Wimbledon champion

Harriet Dart blew two match points on serve as she slipped to an agonising defeat to reigning Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova on a rain-affected day.

Following two suspensions of play in the opening set due to wet weather, the British No 4 battled blustery conditions to move to the brink of one of the greatest wins of her career.

But Krejcikova, who defeated Jasmine Paolini in last year’s Wimbledon final, survived a first-round shock by hitting back to progress 6-3 6-7 (4-7) 7-5 in two hours and 40 minutes.

The second seed will face another Briton in round two following Jodie Burrage’s 6-3 6-2 win over Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima.

Dart did little to hide her frustration at failing to capitalise on the pair of match-clinching opportunities against the 2021 French Open champion, letting out a piercing scream as the following game slipped away.

The 28-year-old has only twice defeated opponents with a higher ranking than Krejcikova’s current status of world No 17.

She upset 2024 Eastbourne champion Daria Kasatkina, who was then ranked ninth, in the first round of the 2022 US Open before beating then-world No 13 Paula Badosa later that year at the Billie Jean King Cup.

Dart said: “Some crazy, crazy conditions today. I was pretty close. I missed a ball on match point and then she played a really good point on my other match point and then she becomes a bit freer. It was a tough match overall.

“My level was 10 times better than I’ve played the last two weeks. For me that’s more important, especially going to Wimbledon.

“Of course, I’d like to have won. But I was also playing a very experienced, multiple Grand Slam winner.”

In the first round of the men’s draw, British qualifier George Loffhagen lost 7-6 (8-6) 3-6 7-6 (7-1) to American Reilly Opelka.

French Open semi-finalist out of Wimbledon qualifying

Surprise French Open semi-finalist Lois Boisson lost in the first round of Wimbledon qualifying.

The 22-year-old was beaten 6-2 6-7 (1-7) 6-4 against No 197-ranked Carson Branstine of Canada at the Roehampton qualifying venue.

Boisson soared from No 361 to No 65 after her run at Roland-Garros in her Grand Slam main draw singles debut, and was top seed in the Wimbledon qualifying draw.

Boisson beat top-10 players Jessica Pegula and Mirra Andreeva at the French Open before losing to eventual champion Coco Gauff.

The Wimbledon main draw starts on Monday.

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