Raducanu must ‘get head in the game’ before Wimbledon

After being defeated by Maya Joint, Emma Raducanu claims she needs to “get her head in the game” for the start of Wimbledon.

The 22-year-old lost 4-6 6-1 7-6 (7-4) to the Australian 19-year-old in an edgy second-round match.

In the decisive set, former US Open champion Raducanu rallied from 5-2 down to clinch a tie-break.

The out-of-sorts Briton, who had responded to a set-set with a heartfelt first-round victory on the south coast, was unable to record two comeback victories in as many days.

She said, “Unfortunately, I couldn’t get over the line today,” but she can now get some rest for the week ahead.

With a tight turnaround, Raducanu will begin playing at Wimbledon on June 30.

She claimed on Tuesday that she had been struck by “some really bad news.”

“I’m exhausted,” I said. She said, “I need to do my best to get my head in the game before the next week,” and we are just going through some things.

Realistically, Wimbledon will start in four days, which is pretty soon.

After a run to the quarter-finals at Queen’s a fortnight ago, Raducanu now occupies the top spot in the British.

However, her performance at Eastbourne appeared sluggish as she gears up for her fourth Wimbledon appearance, which has seen her twice advance to the fourth round.

Raducanu had a dominant lead in the opening set thanks to some impressive serving, but Joint’s dominant serve set set up a commanding second-set level.

Due to a back issue, world number 38 Raducanu pulled out of the Berlin Open last week, but she never called the trainer at any point against Joint despite appearing uncomfortable at times.

After winning over Ann Li on Tuesday, Raducanu cried and claimed that she was “mentally not really present” at times during that game.

On Wednesday, she sat in her chair occasionally, shaking her head in frustration, before coming to a thrilling conclusion to the third set.

Joint saved break-back points at 3-2 after breaking Raducanu in the first match of the decider, before breaking again as Raducanu followed a double fault with a long forehand.

However, Raducanu regained some momentum, breaking it twice during Joint’s match, and even gave off a remarkable break for 5-5.

Both players exchanged breaks as the to-and-forget ended the game, and Raducanu denied Joint a third time as she forced a tie-break.

Joint, who had the lead and secured her spot in the quarter-finals with an ace, was denied by an unfortunate net cord, though.

Joint will face world number 69 Anna Blinkova in the final eight, who was at the beginning of her career ranked 684th.

Barbora Krejcikova, the reigning Wimbledon champion, saved match points for the second day in a row against a British player earlier on Wednesday to advance to the quarter-finals.

Jodie Burrage, who had a lengthy layoff with a back injury, came out on top in the deciding set to defeat Jodie Krejcikova 6-4, 6 (6), 7-6 (7-3) while Krejcikova held three match points on Krejcikova’s serve in the final set.