“When I got broken twice early in the sets I just regrouped really well and I managed to break back both times,” British ace Emma Raducanu reflected last month, reeling from the emotional toll of a distressing “fixated behavior” incident at the Dubai Open. The past few months have been anything but easy for Raducanu with harsh criticism over wildcard entries, back-to-back first-round exits, and ongoing coaching instability. But in Miami, a glimmer of hope emerged. With a confident victory over American 8th seed Emma Navarro, Raducanu finally found her rhythm. And this time, instead of tears, she flashed a smile, sharing a lighthearted moment after the match.
Raducanu delivered a gutsy performance in R64 in Miami, overcoming adversity to secure a thrilling victory over World No. 10 Emma Navarro. After edging a tight first-set tie-break, the British no. 2 faced another challenge: a medical timeout for painful blisters on both feet. Struggling in the 2nd set, she looked destined for defeat when she trailed 1-3 in the decider. But true to her fighting spirit, the former US Open champion roared back, winning four consecutive games. Though she faltered while serving for the match at 5-3, Raducanu held her nerve in a dramatic final-set tie-break to seal an emotional 7-6, 2-6, 7-6 victory.
Following a service ace that secured the final point, Raducanu stood in disbelief, with her hands clasped to her head, absorbing the significance of the moment. This triumph came just days after she parted ways with her interim coach Vlado Platenik, with Mark Petchey and her mentor Jane O’Donoghue now in her corner. But rather than dwelling on past struggles, the Bromley-based tennis ace lit up the court post-match with a hilarious remark that left fans both amazed and overjoyed.
In the post-match interview, Raducanu said, “I don’t know what just happened to be honest. It was a match field with ups and downs, shifts with momentum. Emma is an incredibly tough opponent. She’s top ten. She makes so many balls that were physical and yeah there are difficult conditions. The credit to hard for this unbelievable match we both fought hard. The atmosphere was great. There were 2 Emma’s. It was like ‘Come on Emma.’ We didn’t know which one was getting the support.”
Emma Raducanu after beating Navarro in Miami
“We were both fighting so hard. The atmosphere was great. There were 2 Emma’s. It was like ‘come on Emma.’ We didn’t know which one was getting the support”
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) March 21, 2025
Raducanu’s hard-fought victory over 10th seed Navarro was more than just a win, it was a breakthrough moment. Marking only the third top-10 triumph of her career, this result couldn’t have come at a better time. After months of setbacks, coaching changes, and mounting pressure, the British ace showed resilience, proving she still has the fire to compete at the highest level. With her confidence soaring, Raducanu now prepares for her next battle against another American McCartney Kessler in the next round.
While Emma’s post-match humor brought smiles to fans, Raducanu didn’t just leave it at that. She also took a moment to reflect on her performance, offering an honest assessment of her game and mindset coming to the Miami Open.
“My No.1 match this year,” — Emma Raducanu reflects on her Miami Open run
The 2025 season had been anything but smooth for Emma Raducanu before she arrived at the Miami Open. The 22-year-old endured a string of disappointing results, starting with a crushing defeat at the AO against Polish top seed Iga Swiatek. From there, it was a steep downward curve with early exits at the Singapore Tennis Open, Abu Dhabi Open, Qatar Open, and a 2nd-round heartbreak in Dubai, where fan disruption added to her emotional struggles. Most recently, an opening-round loss to Indian Wells only deepened the concerns about her form.
But Miami has brought a much-needed spark. With a stunning victory over a top-10 opponent, Emma has reignited belief in her game. The confidence boost was evident, and after the match, the Brit didn’t hold back, sharing her honest thoughts on what this win truly meant for her.
“Certain things I am able to do on the court because of good work but in the last few days I have got good friends here who know my game and know me so well and I think just trust your gut, trust your feeling and I think that is how I got here. In the third set, I think I used a lot of emotion even though it didn’t look like it. I have gone through a lot and I told myself that I have gone through too much to leave it to her. I played every point like my life depended on it. It was pretty powerful. I would say this was my No.1 match this year,” Raducanu said at the post-match press conference.
The Brit will now look to keep the momentum going and make a deep run in Miami? Are you backing Raducanu to beat McCartney Kessler convincingly in R32?
The post “Didn’t Know Which One”- Emma Raducanu Caught Off-Guard by Fans After Gritty Win Over Navarro at Miami Open appeared first on EssentiallySports.