EMMOTIONAL

Raducanu: I'd have given up in the past... this win was a 'meaningful' one

- NEIL MCLEMAN

EMOTIONAL Emma Raducanu fought for her first-ever win over a top 10 player at the Rothesay International and then admitted she would have given up in the past.

The 2021 US Open champion claimed her roller-coaster victory over world No.5 Jessica Pegula was "one of the more meaningful ones to me" after saving a match point in the second set tiebreak.

In a match that saw 12 breaks of serve, she served for the match at 5-2 before losing 13 out of 16 points.

And even when serving for the match for the third time at 6-5, she had to save four break points before triumphing 4-67-67-5 in two hours and 44 minutes in the Eastbourne heat.

"It's a great result for me and one I need to enjoy and cherish," said the British No.5. "I don't know if I have ever saved match point before and won. I'm extremely proud. I think the regret of not fighting and not trying my absolute best would have really haunted me after the match.