Krejcikova survives match points in win over Dart; Raducanu joy
PA Media/DPA
Eastbourne (England)
Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova saw opponent Harriet Dart blow two match points on serve before the Czech edged through in Eastbourne on Tuesday.
This year's grass grand slam starts on Monday and Krejcikova was severely tested in her last warm-up tournament.
Following two suspensions of play in the opening set due to wet weather, British number four Dart moved to the brink of one of the greatest wins of her career.
But Krejcikova, who defeated Jasmine Paolini in last year's Wimbledon final, survived a first-round shock by hitting back to progress 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 7-5 in two hours and 40 minutes.
The second seed will face another Briton in round two following Jodie Burrage's 6-3, 6-2 win over Japan's Moyuka Uchijima.
Dart did little to hide her frustration at failing to capitalize on the pair of match-clinching opportunities against the 2021 French Open champion, letting out a piercing scream as the following game slipped away.
Another Briton, Emma Raducanu, fought back tears after resuming her Wimbledon preparations by battling back from a set down to beat American Ann Li in the first round.
Amid blustery conditions, the British number one, who missed last week's Berlin Open as she managed a back problem, triumphed 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-1.
Raducanu has been struggling with the issue since competing in Strasbourg before the French Open and took an off-court medical timeout during her quarter-final loss at Queen's Club earlier this month.
But, aside from a slip and fall on the grass in set one, she appeared to come through her opening examination at Devonshire Park on the English south coast unscathed.
Victory over world number 64 Li in two hours and 18 minutes sets up a second-round clash with 19-year-old Australian Maya Joint, who knocked out twice Wimbledon runner-up Ons Jabeur on Monday.
Seventh seed Raducanu produced an emotional response after sealing progression with a fine backhand winner.
'It feels incredible. I want to thank the crowd for getting me through some really sticky moments,' the former US Open champion said in her on-court interview.
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