Emma Raducanu looks unstoppable in Miami! After witnessing a series of injury setbacks, inconsistencies in her form, and coaching woes, it seems the Brit has now finally found the missing piece in her puzzle. After having seven coaches in under four years and recently parting ways with Vladimir Platenik, Raducanu has got some “familiar” faces like Jane O’Donoghue and Mark Petchey back in her team and their arrival is certainly helping the 22-year-old! How does it feel to have them back?
Before we get there, let’s first understand what an ‘ideal coach’ means in Emma Raducanu’s terms. During a previous interview, she said, “I would say work ethic and a genuine passion and enthusiasm for what they do. I’m the kind of person who does have very long training days but it does not feel like work to me. I’d say someone who doesn’t necessarily view what they do as work, someone who genuinely has that drive and hunger to achieve the best and win big titles.”
But what Jane and Mark are bringing to the table. In an interview with the Tennis Channel, Raducanu said, “It’s been really nice to have them in my corner. I’ve obviously known them for so long and you know with Mark, I’ve worked with him in 2020 in Covid (i.e. before her historic US Open triumph).”
The other one, Jane O’Donoghue, a British former player was LTA’s national coach for women from 2009 to 2019. She became Raducanu’s support network during her tenure at LTA and in fact she mentored Raducanu since her teenage years, In 2022, O’Donoghue’s former partner, Claire Curran said, “Jane’s never not been on Emma’s team. She’s always been an invisible mentor to Emma, she’s a friend of the family.” What did Emma Raducanu say about Jane though?
Speaking about the 41-year-old British former tennis player, Raducanu added, “With Jane, I’ve known her since I was maybe like 10-11 years old and she’s watched me grow and go through the highs and lows and it just meant a lot to have them here and yeah they definitely seen the lows, so to have a bit of high with them it also means a lot. It’s great for all of us and yeah I’m just very happy to have that kind of trust and connection within the team right now.”
It seems something has just clicked in these last few days for Raducanu and she’s looking more confident now. During her post-match press conference, she highlighted the importance of having a relaxed environment around her. “I feel comfortable. I feel like in my environment, in my surroundings with the people I’m with, I feel pretty relaxed, and I can be myself and expressive and true to myself. That’s important for me.” She revealed that now she is being able to switch on and off rather than being under pressure the entire time.
Through in two sets! @EmmaRaducanu secures her spot in the quarterfinals as she defeats Anisimova 6-1, 6-3!#MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/D6sJ9hnt2w
— wta (@WTA) March 24, 2025
Raducanu revealed that they have had a lot of fun in the last few days, playing Spikeball before the match and she believes these small things have now brought a drastic change in her performances. Transitioning all those positive vibes on the court has now made her feel “freer.” She looked quite calm and composed in her previous match against Amanda Anisimova (USA). Raducanu defeated her quite comfortably by a 6-1,6-3 margin in the R16. What are the other secrets to her calm-composed nature on the court and what did she say about her performance in the match against Anisimova?
“I’ve come a long way” – Emma Raducanu shares her thoughts on her journey at the 2025 Miami Open
It took Emma Raducanu just 68 minutes to secure her spot in the QF. With this win, she has now marked her four consecutive matches win at a tournament for the first time since her remarkable 2021 US Open triumph. Raducanu looked extremely confident throughout the match, dominating with her serve and displaying a lot of maturity with a subtle touch of craftiness. Her opponent in this match, Anisimova, however, looked a bit frustrated at several moments in this epic battle.
Speaking about it, Sky Sports pundit, Annabel Croft stated, “Anisimova is absolutely rattled. Her service game… I’m not sure Emma has even lost a point, has she? Dropping the racket there, she’s absolutely fuming. She is all over the place. That sigh says it all. Fed up out here. Not enjoying this. She’s being humiliated.”
What did Emma Raducanu say after this impressive performance, though? Well, after reaching her first WTA 1000 QF, the Brit said, “I’ve come a long way in the last week since Indian Wells, I wasn’t necessarily feeling great about my tennis, about everything,”
She further added, “When I play my best I am definitely authentic, true to myself, and creative. I feel when I am boxed into a regimented way then I am not able to express myself in the same way. So I’m happy with how I realized that this week.”
Just a few days ago, American tennis star, Jessica Pegula made a comment on Raducanu’s impressive performances in Miami as well. She said, “When she’s playing at a top level, she belongs with the top players. I just think she struggled a little bit with injuries, finding consistency,” the US Open finalist said.
Interestingly, she’s now all set to face Emma Raducanu in the QF. Both of them currently share a H2H record of 1-1. Who will have the last laugh in their third encounter?
The post “Definitely Seen the Lows”- Emma Raducanu Finds Strength in Her Old Guard to Relish Miami Open Momentum appeared first on EssentiallySports.