Emma Raducanu from Britain made her way into the last 16 of the Miami Open after her opponent, McCartney Kessler, had to bow out due to injury at the start of the second set. Raducanu’s performance was nothing short of commanding; she took charge of the first set in just half an hour, ending it 6-1.
In the second set, Raducanu established an early advantage by breaking her opponent’s serve, racing ahead 3-0. Unfortunately, Kessler, an American player aged 25, had to retire because of a back problem.
Reflecting on the match, Raducanu noted, “I could tell something was up, and it’s tough to stay focused when you know your opponent is struggling.” She wished Kessler a swift recovery, acknowledging her recent strong performances.
Raducanu expressed satisfaction with her own concentration, highlighting its importance in tennis. “I haven’t reached this stage of a tournament in a while,” she admitted. Her ability to return effectively and put pressure on her opponent from the outset was a key takeaway.
Raducanu entered the Miami Open with a shaky record, having lost five of her last six matches since the Australian Open. Recently, she also parted ways with her coach Vladimir Platenik after just a brief two-week stint.
She shared insights into her fresh approach this week, explaining how playing spike ball with her team just before matches keeps things light and helps her relax. “Expressing my personality is crucial,” she said. “I’m a free spirit, and I thrive when I’m not bogged down by too many restrictions.”
Looking ahead, Raducanu is set to face Amanda Anisimova in the next round. Anisimova advanced after a hard-fought match against Mirra Andreeva, winning 7-6 (7-5), 2-6, 6-3. The 17-year-old Andreeva, who has had an impressive rise to sixth in the world, recently triumphed at the WTA 1,000 events in Indian Wells and Dubai.
