Emma Raducanu's first service point of the match leads to an extended rally, won by Ann Li with a beautifully poised backhand drop shot. A clear sign the American will not be intimidated by the home crowd nor their favourite.

It sets Li on the way to three break points, and she takes the second as Raducanu goes long.

Inauspicious start by Raducanu.

Emma Raducanu is the seed, the higher ranked player and the favourite today - but she will not and should not underestimate her American adversary.

Ann Li is ranked 64th in the world, and recently reached the final of the Singapore Open.

“Very tough first round – it’s a difficult draw,” Raducanu told the LTA website. “First match playing Ann Li, I know she has big weapons – good forehand, good serve and can slice her backhand around so it’s going to be a tough match.

Today marks the first time Raducanu and Li have met in a competitive match.

Image source, Getty Images

A decent start for Emma Raducanu here, forcing Ann Li to deuce as the American goes long following a lengthy rally.

But Li gets a major bit of luck as a slice forehand catches the net cord and drops dead on Raducanu's side. The Brit goes wide on the next point, and Li holds.

Here we go, Ann Li to serve first in this best of three set match.

Emma Raducanu is second on centre court at Eastbourne today, after compatriot Harriet Dart lost an epic to Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova.

Dart held two match points before the losing final three games in a match interrupted multiple times by delays due to rain and wind.

Comditions look slightly clearer now, so hopefully we will get through this second match on court unscathed.

After a tricky few years with injury and off-court issues, things have been brighter of late for Emma Raducanu.

The 2021 US Open champion is up to number 38 in the world, and has reclaimed her place as the top ranked female tennis player in Britain.

At her most recent tournament, the first women's singles event at Queen's for 52 years, she reached the quarter-finals before being beaten by top seed Zheng Qinwen.

It was a welcome sight to see the 22-year-old smiling and enjoying herself after a difficult few years. Her matches were always well attended, with cries of "we love you Emma!" heard throughout in London.

Hopefully we get the same again in Eastbourne today.

Image source, Getty Images

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Welcome to our live text coverage of Emma Raducanu's opening match at the Eastbourne Open - a key grass court warm-up competition ahead of Wimbledon commencing next week.

British number one Raducanu will face Ann Li of the United States in their first round match. The players are being introduced on court now, we will be under way shortly.

BBC Sport

Czech Krejcikova is the top seed in Eastbourne, where she is joined by two-time Wimbledon runner-up Ons Jabeur and former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko.

Raducanu will be competing for the first time since Queen's, having pulled out of last week's Berlin Open as she continues to manage a back problem.

In the men's event, Fearnley will be hoping for another good run after reaching his first ATP quarter-final at Queen's this week, while defending champion Taylor Fritz and teenagers Jakub Mensik and Joao Fonseca are also playing.

You can watch a live stream of both the WTA and ATP matches from Eastbourne on iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app from 11:00 BST every day.