Emma Raducanu endured a tough time on and off the court not so long ago, but she has since bounced back in stunning fashion.
Having skipped the French Open after playing in Madrid in April, the 21-year-old made a superb comeback in Nottingham.
There, Raducanu made it all the way to the semi-finals at the grass-court competition, eventually losing to compatriot Katie Boulter.
The current British number one showed all her class to narrowly edge out Raducanu, with the latter certain to have been proud of her efforts.
Raducanu has now taken confidence from that run in Nottingham to shine at Eastbourne, where she stormed into the quarter-finals with a hugely impressive win.
Emma Raducanu helps break 40 year old British record
It arrived against world number five Jessica Pegula, and represents the first time she has beaten a top-10 player.
But the second round 4-6, 7-6(8-6), 7-5 upset against the number two seed has helped produce another record.
According to Jose Morgado, three British players are into the quarter-finals at Eastbourne, a WTA 500, for the first time in over 40 years.
Raducanu has made it thanks to her superb victory, with the former world number seven joined by Katie Boulter and Harriet Dart.
There has also been British success in the men’s competition, with Billy Harris having also secured a quarter-final spot.
Will there be a British winner at Wimbledon?
The superb form from the British players on the grass at Eastbourne will have British fans very excited ahead of Wimbledon.
The third Grand Slam of the year gets underway at the beginning of next month, with the home favourites certainly hitting form at the right time.
All of those competing at Eastbourne will continue to focus on the current competition, but they will, of course, have one eye on plenty of success at Wimbledon.
Much of the talk has unsurprisingly focused on Raducanu, with Annabel Croft claiming that she wouldn’t be surprised if the former British number one did ‘extremely well’.
Current British number one Boulter meanwhile should also be capable of going far, having just won the Nottingham Open.
She and Raducanu may just share the burden when it comes to British hopes for the women’s tournament, but it is undoubtedly Jack Draper who stands alone in the men’s draw.
There are a handful of others who can certainly cause a shock or two, but all eyes will be on the new British men’s number one.
He is really enjoying his 2024 so far, having just lifted the Stuttgart Open trophy, with Jannik Sinner claiming that the Brit is ‘already playing top 10, top 15 tennis now’.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
