EMMA RADUCANU burst into tears after a hard-fought comeback victory at the Eastbourne Open.
The Brit saw off Ann Li 6-7 6-3 6-1 in a lengthy first round battle.
AFPEmma Raducanu was in tears at the end of her match[/caption]
ReutersRaducanu came from a set down to move into the Eastbourne second round[/caption]
Raducanu sealed victory with a brilliant backhand winner and dropped her racquet in relief.
She immediately burst into tears away as she looked across to her coach Mark Petchey in delight and walked to shake her American opponent’s hand at the net.
An emotional Raducanu said during her on-court interview: “It was incredible, 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 so proud of how I fought back after losing the first set.
“Ann was hitting winners all over the place and it was obviously very windy.
“I’m very, very happy to have come through that today.
“It was tough, it was up and down, but from the middle of the second set I found an extra level.”
Raducanu, 22, who is onto the eighth coach of her career, said things are going “very well” with Petchey in her box.
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She faces Maya Joint in the next round at Eastbourne.
Raducanu insists she is fit and “looking forward” to Wimbledon next week despite recent back problems.
But away from the court, her friendship to men’s world No2 Carlos Alcaraz is making the headlines.
She was spotted in the stands as the Spaniard won the Queen’s title on Sunday.
A source exclusively told SunSport they have enjoyed days out together, saying: “Emma and Carlos’ friendship was the talk of Queen’s – people think there is something going on between them because they have such a spark.
“He was apparently seen at her hotel last week and on Thursday and Saturday, when Emma went to support him, Emma’s car arrived just minutes after Carlos got to Queens with his team.
“Inside they were seen laughing and joking with one another.
“They seem very happy and relaxed with each other.”
On their bond, Raducanu said they have been pals since 2021 and have a “good relationship”.
She added: “I think for all of us, we really kind of value those connections that we had from when we were young because when you become a bit more known or a bit more successful, you just find yourself reverting back to people you knew from a young age because you’re like, that’s a real genuine connection.
“Because it becomes very busy and you have a lot more friends but the ones that you’ve known for a long time mean a lot more to you.”
BBCRaducanu said she found an ‘extra level’ when needed during the second set[/caption] Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
