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Boulter books a second British win at Eastbourne

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Katie Boulter lived up to her status as British No. 1 as she fought through a tricky tiebreak scenario to advanced to the Eastbourne second round 6-1, 7-6 (8) on Tuesday over Petra Martic.

The unseeded winner joined compatriot Emma Raducanu in advancing at home, with Raducanu putting out Sloane Stephens 6-4, 6-0.

Boulter, ranked 32nd on the WTA, carried momentum from her weekend grass title at Nottingham – her second this season after also winning San Diego – onto the courts of this seaside resort town as she defeated the lucky loser form qualifying rounds.

 The girlfriend of Australian Alex de Minaur swept the opening set against her Croat opponent in 27 minutes but had to battle for more than twice as long to win the second set and the match.

Boulter saved three Martic set points in the second and benefitted from a line-call protest on match point which gave her another second serve. 

She finished with an untouchable winner against the 2023 quarter-finalist here after coming from 5-1 down in the tight decider.

Boulter lost to Martic here a year ago in the opening round and was happy to turn the table in the re-match.

“It was super stressful, I had the loss from last year in my head, so I was happy to turn this one around,” the winner said. “The tiebreak was more dramatic than I had hoped.

“It’s great to come back here and play well. I got the win so I’m happy.

“Petra is a big fighter and makes it tough for you.”

The British national pacesetter is naturally pointing all of her efforts at Wimbledon, which begins on Monday.

“I have nothing to lose this week, I just want to get more practice on the grass – we all need that.

“I’m happy to be playing another match.”

Main photo:- Katie Boulter celebrates winning in San Diego

ATP

Norrie fights through while Draper folds in Cincy

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Cam Norrie set up a second-rounder with top seed Alexander Zverev as the British No. 2 overcame a slow start to overhaul Croat Dino Prizmic 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 while Jack Draper suffered another collapse in form on Thursday at the Cincinnati Masters.

Norrie, a Montreal quarter-finalist who had not won a match here since 2022, seized the initiative in the second set against Prizmic and bolted into the second round despite feeling sluggish.

“It was a quick turnaround from Montreal. I couldn’t feel the ball and was a bit under the weather,” the No. 37 said.

“He came out firing and I had to stay tough. I could see he was struggling with the conditions. There was one break in the third set, not much in there.”

Norries takes an 0-7 record into his match with Zverev, an opening-match loser in Montreal who said he played one of the worst matches of his career in Canada.

https://www.atptour.com/en/video/highlights-norrie-rallies-past-prizmic-sets-zverev-clash-in-cincinnati-2026

Draper managed a 5-2 lead in his second set against Spain’s Martin Landaluce, but was twice unable to serve his way into a deciding third set, taking a 6-3, 7-5 defeat in two hours..

The No. 143 Brit whose career has often been a never-ending run of injuries and disappointment, missed on six set point chances, turned in a dozen double faults.

The loss came just days after his tearful outburst after going down in the Montreal first round.

Prior to Montreal, he last played in Eastbourne and has shown up for just 14 Tour matches this season.

That was all just fine for the 64th-ranked Landaluce, who benefitted form almost 50 Draper unforced errors.

“The important thing was to believe in my game and my shots. I can have some big misses but I don’t care. At the end I was making good shots,” the Spaniard said..

“If I lose like that, I don’t care. Today I got the win and I’m very happy.”

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Eastbourne

Rotten luck for Raducanu – no US Open

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Emma Raducanu will miss the return to the scene of her biggest career triumph with news on Monday that the injured Brit will be missing from the US Open.

The player who won the New York title from a qualifying start in 2021 has not competed since losing the Eastbourne final in mid-June and then going missing from Wimbledon.

The 23-year-old is dealing with a stress fracture and is reported by British tabloid media as undergoing treatment at a pricey private clinic.

In 15 Grand Slam appearances since her Open title half a decade ago, Raducanu has only twice reached the fourth round of a major and looks to be a fading force in between injuries and a near-constant merry-go-round of coaches.

Main photo:- Emma Raducanu won US Open 2021 from a qualifying start, without dropping a set – by ISF Ltd

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ATP

Murray ready to try it again with fragile Draper

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Andy Murray will give his coaching attempt with Jack Draper another go this week in Washington as the injury-prone Brit attempts a comeback after dropping out of Wimbledon and skewering his debut with his famed compatriot.

Murray has patiently adjusted to the waiting game with Draper, a one-time national No. 1 now ranked 147.

The pair will attempt to kick start their coaching relationship in steamy conditions in Washington as the pre-US open hardcourt season kicks off in the US capital.

Since announcement of the collaboration last May, Draper has only played one event, reaching the home semi-finals at Eastbourne.

But the Wimbledon partnership was put on hold by yet another injury to the fragile 24-year-old, who did not compete from last September until Davis Cup in February due to bone bruising in his serving arm.

Bringing three-time Grand Slam winner Murray on board had originally been billed as a deal of only a few weeks. Draper has played in only six events this season, winning eight of 13 matches.

Sky Sports reported that Sir Andy and his new pupil had been spotted on a practice court in Washington this week.

Main photo:- Sir Andy Murray takes a training time out with Jack Draper in Washington

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