From the brink: Maya Joint denies Emma Raducanu's comeback bid in Eastbourne thriller

Maya Joint has defeated Emma Raducanu in an epic encounter at the Eastbourne Open, winning 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(4) to advance to the quarterfinals. The Australian teenager avenged her loss to Raducanu less than two months ago in the first round of the Rome Open, where the Brit secured a tight three-set victory.

The 19-year-old took control of the match in the second set and squandered several opportunities to close out the match. When an epic comeback from Raducanu seemed imminent, Joint finally managed to seal a hard-fought victory that became unexpectedly complicated. In the quarterfinals, she will face Russia's Anna Blinkova, who eliminated Lulu Sun in straight sets.

First Set

The teenager was the first to get a break at the start of the first set to go up 2-0, but Raducanu quickly leveled in the next game. Towards 3-3, Raducanu seemed to take the lead with a break, but this time Joint broke back to get back in the match. However, for the third time in the set, the Australian was unable to win her service game, and the Brit this time did take her chance, closing the set on her serve 6-4.

The former US Open champion was very focused on her serve – with an 86% in – although with low effectiveness, as she barely won 54% of them. Nevertheless, she was efficient on return, winning 55% of the points when Joint was serving.

Second Set

Towards the second set, Joint began to find greater stability in her serve, with a great start in which she got a break and took the lead up to 3-0. The Australian was about to get a second consecutive break, but Raducanu saved two break points against her to stay in contention.

It didn't help the Brit much that she barely won 5 points on return throughout the set. Joint held her serve firmly and this time got the second break, which ended up giving her an easy set 6-1. The Australian had substantially improved her serving numbers: 74% first serve in, winning 79% of them, practically not letting her opponent play on return.

Third Set

A true emotional rollercoaster for both players, where Joint was the first to take advantage, capitalizing on an early break that put her up 2-0. Raducanu fought to get the break back and had up to three opportunities at 2-3 to level, but Joint held the advantage. Everything seemed to be crumbling for Raducanu when she lost her serve in the next game and the Australian took a two-break lead and prepared to serve at 5-2.

However, the teenager suffered from a lack of experience in these types of situations and after 5-2, she won barely 3 of the next 15 points. There were two consecutive breaks for Raducanu who miraculously got back in the match to level at 5-5.

Raducanu could take the lead, but Joint broke back, and for the third consecutive time, she could close out the win with her serve. However, the Brit No. 1 would once again show her resilience and manage to break back, sending everything to an epic tie-break. They reached 3-3 without conceding their serves, and at the change of ends, Raducanu got the first mini-break (4-3). It was of little use, as she couldn't hold her serve, and Joint handled her nerves better in the match's final breath, winning the last four points consecutively and taking the victory 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(4).

Match Statistics Joint vs. Raducanu