Emma Raducanu has just claimed the biggest win over her career, if the ranking of her opponent is anything to go by.
She came from a set down to defeat the world number five Jessica Pegula at Eastbourne, 4-6 7-6 (8-6) 7-5.
A sensational match that ebbed and flowed, it was impossible to predict who might claim victory, despite the Great British tennis star racing into a 5-2 double-break lead in the third.
But the American showcased some grit of her own to battle back, before being broken just as a match-deciding tiebreak loomed.
Now, reacting to the match on Instagram, Raducanu has drawn interest with her post.
Emma Raducanu reacts to Eastbourne win over Jessica Pegula
The youngster is often active on this social media platform, seeking to update fans on her whereabouts and posting after big wins.
However, in a 2024 where she has simply been seeking to regain fitness after last year’s injury woes, celebrating the latter has been in short supply.
That was, until yesterday saw her perform remarkably well to claim her first-ever win over a top-ten opponent.
Her two-word caption on Instagram was short, but rather fitting, as she seemed to suggest that the future remains bright by simply writing: ‘Blank canvas’.
This sparked responses from some high-profile names, with Katie Boulter replying: ‘Queeeeeen’.
Paula Badosa was even pictured in the comments, writing: ‘Emmita emmita,’ alongside a heart eyes emoji. Great praise from some top players ahead of Wimbledon next week.
This could be a new dawn for Emma Raducanu
When Raducanu won the US Open in 2021, she shot to fame. And rightly so.
After all, the teenager had done what most others could only dream of, and as a qualifier for the event too.
It was miraculous, but it set expectations at an all-time high.
Instantly, the wider tennis world, and the British media in particular, expected great things from her when she simply was not ready.
Throw in a miserable spat of truly unfortunate injuries, and it proved an impossible task to compete at the level many had hoped for.
But now having overcome Pegula in convincing fashion, showcasing her quality, power, grit and determination, this feels like a real new dawn for Raducanu, which could spur her on towards deeper runs in competitions, and more titles to go with her only one on the WTA tour thus far: a Grand Slam.
Annabel Croft had predicted how well Raducanu would do at Wimbledon before this match, but having watched the 21-year-old play with such purpose and poise, perhaps that might have now changed for the better.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
