Eastbourne tennis fans have just witnessed a very memorable moment as home favorite Emma Raducanu earned her first top-10 win after saving a match point to beat world No. 5 Jessica Pegula.
Wildcard Raducanu - who is debuting in Eastbourne this week - had her back turned against the wall when second-seeded Pegula opened a lead of a set and a break. But the 21-year-old didn't quit and it resulted in her completing a 4-6 7-6 (6) 7-5 round-of-16 comebackwin.
Early in the first set, Raducanu wasn't playing that well and Pegula took the advantage by breaking the Briton in the first and fifth games. When Raducanu fell behind by a double break, it seemed that the first set was likely over, but the 21-year-old didn't quit and she managed to level the set to four games apiece after earning back-to-back breaks.
But then, Raducanu allowed Pegula to get another break in the ninth game and the American made sure to punish the Briton this time after serving out for the opener in the 10th game.
How Raducanu came back to beat Pegula?
After losing the first set in a painful way, Raducanu didn't start the second set well either as Pegula got the break in the opening game. But after finding herself down by a set and a break, that was when Raducanu started to play much better as she went on to get the break back and force a tie-break - in which she saved a set point before converting her second set point.
After saving a match point and winning a thriller second set, Raducanu broke Pegula in the third and fifth games for a 5-2 third-set lead. Serving for the match for the first time and second times, Raducanu started feeling the nerves and got tight, which Pegula used to get both breaks back.
But Raducanu didn't let this one slip away from her as she broke Pegula again in the 11th game and served out for the match in her third attempt.
