MIAMI – Emma Raducanu, famously known for her unexpected victory at the 2021 US Open as a qualifier, is making headlines again. Now 22, she`s focused on forging a new chapter in her career, and the 2025 Miami Open is proving to be an excellent stage for this.
After overcoming a series of injuries, Raducanu, representing Great Britain, is enjoying a remarkable run in Miami. She triumphed over No. 17 seed Amanda Anisimova with a score of 6-1, 6-3, securing her first ever quarterfinal spot in a WTA 1000 tournament.
“My biggest achievement this week is rediscovering my competitive drive,” Raducanu shared with reporters. “I`m fighting for every point, something I felt was missing over the past months and years. I feel hungry and competitive on the court again, eager to chase down every ball. That’s the most significant takeaway for me.”
Raducanu revealed that part of her improved performance comes from adjusting her pre-match routine, incorporating soccer, frisbee, and football.
“I step onto the court knowing I’m prepared to battle for every point,” Raducanu explained. “This mindset has been effective so far. Also, I believe I`m overthinking less during matches, which is beneficial. I’m trying to unleash my natural creativity, as that`s when I play my best tennis.”
In her recent matches, including one where McCartney Kessler retired in the second set, Raducanu has impressively won 24 out of 29 games.
In the Round of 16 match on Monday, Raducanu demonstrated greater efficiency than Anisimova, maintaining an equal count of winners and unforced errors (eight each). In contrast, Anisimova recorded 12 winners but a high 37 unforced errors. The match concluded swiftly in just 69 minutes.
To put her current success in perspective, this is only the second time in Raducanu`s career that she has won four consecutive matches in a WTA Tour main draw. The first instance was her phenomenal US Open journey, where she won seven main-draw matches consecutively (and ten including qualifying rounds).
Anisimova, on her own path to resurgence, had a strong 2024 season, finishing ranked No. 36. A title win at the Doha WTA 1000 event significantly boosted her momentum, leading to an 11-4 record this year and a career-high ranking of No. 17.
Raducanu`s victories over Anisimova and No. 8 seed Emma Navarro mark the second time she has defeated two Top 20 players at the same tournament. The first time was her remarkable US Open run, where she defeated Belinda Bencic and Maria Sakkari on her way to the title.
Upcoming Match Against Pegula: Raducanu`s quarterfinal opponent will be No. 4 seed Jessica Pegula. Pegula secured her quarterfinal spot by defeating No. 23 seed Marta Kostyuk 6-2, 6-3 on Monday.
Pegula has consistently performed well at the Miami Open, reaching the quarterfinals or better for the fourth consecutive year, with semifinal appearances in 2022 and 2023.
Pegula`s victory on Monday was also efficient, lasting 1 hour and 23 minutes. Despite falling behind 3-0 in the second set after winning the first, she rallied to win the next six games and secure the match.
Raducanu and Pegula have an even head-to-head record, each winning once in their home country. Pegula won their Cincinnati hard court match in 2022 in straight sets, while Raducanu upset Pegula on grass at Eastbourne last year.
