Emma Raducanu feels she proved her grass-court might with a ‘meaningful’ win that sent her through to the quarter-finals of the LTA’s Rothesay International Eastbourne.

The 21-year-old was a double break down and lost the first set against World No. 5 Jessica Pegula, but Raducanu determinedly fought back to take the second with a tie-break, saving a match point in the process.

Into the crucial third, Raducanu fashioned a strong showing to break Pegula in as many games, utilising the court in style.

And the Bromley tennis ace charged home from there, recording a 4-6 7-6 (8-6) 7-5 victory for her first-ever win over a top 10 opponent.

She said: “I’m pretty drained right now but I want to thank everyone for getting me through some really difficult moments in that match.

“It’s incredibly difficult when you’re playing someone who is so on form, Jessica came off the back of a great run in Berlin, no doubt she is feeling confident on the grass.

“I’m really pleased with how I managed to navigate some tough situations, this match is one of the more meaningful ones to me.”

Raducanu faces another tough test against sixth seed Daria Kasatkina in the last eight but the wildcard will be full of confidence after a stirring second-round success.

Since the tournament’s inception 50 years ago in 1974, it is the second time three or more British players have made the quarter-finals on the south coast when Anne Hobbs, Virginia Wade and Michelle Tyler all made it to the last eight in 1978.

Katie Boulter and Harriet Dart joined Raducanu in women’s singles as Billy Harris also secured his last-eight spot in the men’s singles.

After missing the grass swing last year to have three surgeries, Raducanu believes the strength of British tennis is coming into its own with Wimbledon right around the corner.

She added: “It’s really good healthy competition, we all see each other progressing into the next round and we all just want to join them, nobody wants to be left behind.

“That is the way it should be, we should be pushing each other and that is the case in men’s and women’s, we’re all doing really well, especially on the grass.

“It’s a testament to how hard we’ve been training and putting the work in and I think we’re all doing a pretty good job.”

For the latest action on the British summer grass court season, check out the LTA website