Emma Raducanu has “rekindled” the fire inside her! The flames have already engulfed one American, and now she sets her eyes on another. However, this time, it won’t be a cakewalk as she takes on the world number 5, Jessica Pegula, in the R16 of the 2024 Eastbourne International. The Brit opted to skip the entirety of May to be prepared for the grass-court season. After the SF of the Nottingham Open, how far can she reach in this tournament?

Jessica Pegula is entering this tournament after her recent title triumph at the Grass Court Championships in Berlin. This was her first title triumph since 2023 Seoul, and she also clinched her first Top 10 victory of the season in Berlin by defeating Coco Gauff in the SF. Now, Pegula will be looking forward to keeping the winning moment intact in Eastbourne as well.

Emma Raducanu vs Jessica Pegula: Preview

Emma Raducanu is slowly and steadily gaining a winning momentum. She has already reached one QF and one SF this year. Raducanu defeated America’s Sloane Stephens in the R32 clash with a convincing 6-4, 6-0. Raducanu landed five aces and just two double faults to send Stephens packing. She won 68% of her first serve and 71% of her second serve against Stephens, converting 6/9 breakpoints while giving away 2/6.

She has hit 55 aces so far this season and has committed 50 double faults. Emma Raducanu has won 68.5% of her service games and just around 37.1% of her return games. How well has her American opponent performed this year?

Apart from winning the title in Berlin, Jessica Pegula has made it two SFs and one QF in her previous tournaments this year. In her most recent match, she took down Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya by 6(0)-7, 6-4, 7-6(3) in the final on the Berlin grass. Seven aces and two double faults helped her win against the Russian star. Furthermore, her first-serve win percentage was 64%, and her second-serve win percentage was 48%. She converted six out of her twelve breakpoints while giving away 5/11.

Looking at her numbers from this season, Jessica Pegula has scored 70 aces and committed 48 double faults. She has won 72.3% of her service games and 35.3% of her return games this year, but who’s leading their H2H record?

Raducanu vs Pegula: Head-to-Head

Jessica Pegula and Emma Raducanu have met only once, with the American, the victor in the meeting. Their 2022 Cincinnati Masters R2 ended 7-5,6-4. Pegula hit three aces with no double faults. However, the Brit hit seven aces against the American tennis star and committed three double faults. She won 61% of her first serve and 65% of her second serve, but Pegula won 81% of her first serve and 63% of her second serve. Jessica Pegula was 3/9 in the breakpoints, while it was 1/3 for the Brit.

Prediction: Pegula to win in three sets

Although beating Emma Raducanu on her home grass won’t be easy, Jessica Pegula’s current form gives her a slight edge in the upcoming contest. She has a win-loss record of 19-8 this season compared to Emma Raducanu’s 11-8 win-loss record. This will be Raducanu’s first appearance in this tournament, while Pegula has reached the QF here in 2023. Against the Top 10, Raducanu has fared less than well in the recent past, so defeating the world no. 5 will be a mammoth task for the former world no.10.

Raducanu plays an aggressive brand of tennis, and she has a strong forehand. However, her best groundstroke is her two-handed backhand. She is also a good returner of the serves and has incredible court coverage ability, along with an effective drop shot to surprise her opponents. Jessica Pegula, on the other hand, has a wide wing span and hits the balls with real venom off the forehand and backhand. Her playing style involves a lot of power and accuracy; in fact, she moves really well on the court, too! Pegula looks slightly ahead in this epic faceoff, but it will not be an easy victory.