Emma Raducanu's journey at the Eastbourne Open came to a dramatic and heart-wrenching end on June 25, 2025, as she succumbed to a thrilling three-set defeat against Australian teenager Maya Joint. The match, played under more favorable weather conditions than the previous day, showcased an intense battle of wills and skills, with momentum swinging wildly before Joint ultimately triumphed 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-4).
The 22-year-old British No.1 arrived at Eastbourne carrying the weight of recent physical struggles, notably a recurring back injury that had forced her withdrawal from the Berlin Open just a week earlier. Raducanu had also revealed she received "some pretty bad news" on the eve of the tournament, which she described as "difficult and very emotional," a burden that seemed to shadow her performance throughout the event.
Despite these challenges, Raducanu displayed remarkable grit, particularly in the deciding set. After falling behind 2-5, the former US Open champion mounted an inspired comeback, breaking Joint's serve three times as the Australian attempted to close out the match. The British star forced a tense tie-break, even taking a mini-break to lead 4-3, before Joint steadied herself to reel off four consecutive points, sealing the victory with a powerful ace after two hours and 33 minutes of high-quality tennis.
From the outset, the match was a fierce baseline duel. Joint, known for her aggressive style and heavy groundstrokes, took an early lead in the first set, breaking Raducanu's serve to go 2-0 up. However, Raducanu fought back with a series of breaks, eventually claiming the first set 6-4. The momentum then shifted dramatically as Joint dominated the second set 6-1, showcasing her growing confidence on grass in only her second professional match on this surface.
The final set was a rollercoaster, with Joint initially surging ahead by winning 11 of 14 games to reach a commanding 5-2 lead. Raducanu, though visibly struggling physically at times—seen bent over in her chair during changeovers and appearing leggy—refused to give in. She broke Joint’s serve three times when the Australian was serving for the match, leveling the score at 5-5 and extending the contest to a nail-biting finish.
Joint, ranked 51st in the world and only 19 years old, has been making waves this season. Born in Michigan, she switched allegiance to Australia in early 2023 and turned professional in December 2024, rapidly climbing the rankings. At Eastbourne, she had already notched up impressive wins, including a stunning victory over two-time Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur in her first grass-court match. Her win over Raducanu marks her fourth main-draw victory over a top-50 player this year, signaling her potential as a future top-10 contender.
After the match, Joint reflected on the emotional rollercoaster: "Today was 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 will face world number 69 Anna Blinkova in the quarter-finals at Devonshire Park, while Raducanu now turns her focus to Wimbledon, set to begin on June 30, 2025.
Raducanu’s grass-court season has been hampered by ongoing back spasms, a problem that first surfaced at Queen's Club. She has been receiving acupuncture treatments and has had to carefully manage her fitness, with her usual fitness coach Yutaka Nakamura absent for personal reasons this season. Instead, Mark Petchey and fellow professional Francesca Jones have been supporting her on court, the latter described by Raducanu as a "close friend" who provided vital emotional support during this difficult period.
Despite the defeat, Raducanu remains the leading British hope for a first women’s Wimbledon champion since 1977. She has twice reached the fourth round at SW19 and will be eager to put recent setbacks behind her as she prepares for the Grand Slam on home soil. She expressed a mindset focused on progress rather than perfection: "I feel like I’m just doing the right things every day. I know there’s a lot of things I want to do better, but I think I have to be proud of myself and aim for consistency over perfection. That’s my new thing and trying to – I have high standards of myself but trying not to bring myself down if I don’t reach them."
The Eastbourne Open also saw defending Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova advance to the quarter-finals after a hard-fought 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3) victory over British player Jodie Burrage. Krejcikova, who is still finding her form after a lengthy injury layoff, saved multiple match points across consecutive rounds, demonstrating her resilience and championship pedigree. The match featured an unusual incident where a hole in the net allowed a ball to pass through, leading Krejcikova to sportsmanship by awarding the point to Burrage before the net was repaired.
In the men’s draw, lucky loser Billy Harris continued his impressive run, defeating Mattia Bellucci 6-3, 6-4. Harris’s performance has been a highlight of the tournament, capitalizing on his unexpected entry into the main draw.
As the tennis world turns its eyes to Wimbledon, the Eastbourne Open has provided a captivating prelude, with emerging talents like Maya Joint making their mark and established stars like Raducanu facing fresh challenges. The drama and high stakes witnessed at Devonshire Park underscore the unpredictable nature of the sport and set the stage for an exciting summer of tennis.
