Emma Raducanu has spotted issue with the courts at Eastbourne despite beating Sloane Stephens

Follow us on Google Discover

Emma Raducanu discussed the challenges of playing on the courts at the Eastbourne International.

The Brit returned from double wrist and ankle surgery at the start of 2024 and is delighted to be back playing on the grass in front of her home fans.

After citing exhaustion following the opening round defeat in Madrid, she chose to skip May’s French Open qualifiers and spend more time preparing for this portion of the season.

She has returned to the court energised and ready to rediscover her best tennis and she is certainly going in the right direction.

Emma Raducanu defends her decision to skip certain tournaments

Raducanu enjoyed a positive start to her grass court season when she reached the semi-finals of the Nottingham Open.

She just came up short in a tight 7-6(13), 3-6, 4-6 defeat to British compatriot Katie Boulter, who went on to win the title.

Now in Eastbourne, the 21-year-old made an impressive start to her debut campaign with a 6-4, 6-0 win over the former US Open champion Sloane Stephens.

Following the victory, the Bromley local described the court conditions at Eastbourne following her debut match at the event.

“The balls get really heavy and slow and it was hard to hit through her. I was just trying to move the ball around,” she told reporters.

“As the week goes on, hopefully the baseline and the midcourt will harden up because right now a lot of the balls are dying. On a hard court maybe it’s more straightforward. It’s just about figuring out the surface, it’s the same for everyone.”

Emma Raducanu wins her Eastbourne debut match in emphatic fashion

Despite being in poor form and going nine years without a win at Eastbourne, Stephens was always going to be a tough challenge for Raducanu.

The first set proved to be the case as both players exchanged multiple breaks of serve, before Raducanu took the first set when the American served to stay in it.

The Brit stormed through set two without losing a game and finished the match 6-4, 6-0 with 23 winners to just 13 unforced errors and recorded her second with against Stephens.

“I think for me it was the case of adapting to the court. I’ve never played in Eastbourne, I’ve never played on this Centre Court and every court plays a little bit differently,” she added. “In the beginning, I was trying to figure out what was the best way for me to play and use my game.”