Emma Raducanu is set to face Jessica Pegula in the quarter-finals of the Miami Open, which is considered one of the most significant matches of her career since her triumph at the 2021 US Open.
Her most impressive performance since that historic title came when she defeated American 17th seed Amanda Anisimova in straight sets.
Raducanu showcased her skills by not conceding a single point on her serve during the first set, reinforcing a strong display that enabled her to ascend into the top 50 of the world rankings.
“I’ve made significant strides over the past week since Indian Wells [where Raducanu faced a first-round defeat],” she shared with Sky Sports Tennis. “Although I was not fully satisfied with my tennis, being surrounded by trustworthy and enjoyable people has been extremely important.”
Earlier this month, Raducanu ended her trial with coach Vladimir Platenik after only two weeks, citing that it “wasn’t heading in the right direction”.
Currently, while searching for a permanent coach to accompany fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura, Raducanu is temporarily teaming up with Jane O’Donoghue, a mentor from her childhood, and Mark Petchey, a former coach of Andy Murray and current commentator on the Tennis Channel.
The 22-year-old expressed feeling “comfortable” and “relaxed” in her new setting, allowing her to truly express herself on and off the court. “I believe I’m playing better than I did in Australia this year. My biggest achievement this week has been discovering my competitive spirit,” she added.
With this victory, Raducanu has won four matches in succession for the first time since her incredible US Open triumph and reached the quarter-finals of a WTA 1000 event for the first time in her career.
