Emma Raducanu's gripping battle against Australian teenager Maya Joint at the Lexus Eastbourne Open ended in a narrow defeat, as Raducanu fell 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(7-4) in a match that kept fans on the edge of their seats for over two and a half hours on June 25, 2025. Despite Raducanu's spirited fightback, including saving three match points and forcing a deciding tie-break, Joint ultimately sealed her victory with a clutch ace to advance to the quarter-finals.
The British No.1 started the match on a strong note, overcoming an early break of serve to claim the first set 6-4 in a tense opener that featured five breaks between the two players. Raducanu's resilience was clear as she capitalized on Joint's scattered play to take the lead.
However, the momentum shifted dramatically in the second set. Joint, ranked world No. 51, elevated her game to another level, winning over 80% of points on her first serve and more than 70% on her second. Her backhand was particularly effective, and Raducanu struggled to find her rhythm, ultimately losing the set 1-6 as Joint dominated the rallies.
The deciding set was a rollercoaster of emotions. Joint surged ahead to a commanding 5-2 lead, seemingly poised to close out the match with a double break advantage. But Raducanu dug deep, channeling an Andy Murray-like grit to win three consecutive games, breaking Joint’s serve at 5-6 to force a tie-break. The crowd roared as the British star clawed her way back from the brink.
In the tie-break, Raducanu grabbed the first mini-break and led 4-3, fueling hopes of a remarkable comeback. Yet, a couple of unforced errors, including forehands sailing long, allowed Joint to regain control. The young Australian then delivered an ace down the center line to clinch the match.
Raducanu reflected on the hard-fought contest, saying, “I think Maya played a really good match, it was obviously very long. Credit to her she really stepped up in a lot of big moments there. I’m rooting for her, hopefully she can go all the way.” She acknowledged her own struggles but took positives from the experience: “I did fight back well but I did put myself in that situation to start, which wasn’t necessarily great, but I did dig it out in that third set. In terms of getting some live situations of break points and coming back grows the bank of experience and helps keep the match sharpness ahead of next week.”
Indeed, Raducanu’s performance showed mental toughness, especially considering she converted only six of 14 break points she created during the match. Her ability to save multiple match points and push the match to a tie-break highlights her competitive spirit, even if the final result did not go her way.
Raducanu also revealed she has been dealing with personal challenges and a back issue, which may have affected her play. After her emotional first-round victory over Ann Li, where she shed tears on court, Raducanu mentioned receiving “some pretty bad news” but chose not to elaborate. Speaking to the BBC after her defeat, she said, “I feel quite tired. Just going through some stuff and I need to do my best to get my head in the game ahead of next week.” With Wimbledon starting in just four days, Raducanu plans to rest on June 26 and hopes to return to practice on June 27 to prepare for the Grand Slam.
On the other side, Maya Joint described the match as “really tough, there were a lot of ups and downs and momentum switches. I was really glad I could tough it out in the end. The atmosphere was amazing.” She emphasized her aggressive style and adaptability: “I tried to hit the lines, it doesn't always work. I'm an aggressive player, I like to use my backhand and I'm trying to learn to play on all courts.”
The Eastbourne Open also saw another British player, Jodie Burrage, exit in a similarly tight contest. Burrage faced reigning Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova and lost 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(7-3) after missing three match points. Burrage held a 0-40 lead on Krejcikova’s serve at 6-5 in the final set but was unable to close it out as Krejcikova prevailed in the tie-break. The Czech champion had been struggling with a right leg issue, icing it during changeovers, but her resilience helped her save five match points against British players in two days.
Meanwhile, in the men’s draw, Dan Evans continued his resurgence with a notable victory over world No. 13 Tommy Paul, winning 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals. Lucky loser Billy Harris also advanced with a 6-3, 6-4 win against Mattia Bellucci. However, British No. 2 Jacob Fearnley was eliminated after a 6-3, 6-1 loss to Marcos Giron.
For Raducanu, the focus now shifts fully to Wimbledon. Despite the disappointment in Eastbourne, her fightback showed she has the mental fortitude needed on the biggest stages. As she said, “The turnaround is pretty soon – it’s only four days away really that Wimbledon starts.” Fans will be eager to see how she harnesses this experience and prepares for the challenge ahead.
