Injured Emma Raducanu falls to Jessica Pegula in Miami Open quarter-finals

Emma Raducanu’s promising Miami Open run ended in the quarter-finals after a hard-fought battle against world number four Jessica Pegula. Despite pushing the match to a deciding set, the British player fell 6-4, 6-7 (3-7), 6-2 to the American on Wednesday.

Raducanu, 22, showed flashes of her best form, particularly in the second set, where she recovered from dizziness and medical treatment to force a decider. However, Pegula's consistency proved decisive as she secured victory to advance to the semi-finals.

“It was tough,” Pegula said. “I just wanted to come out in the third set really strong, really quick, and jump on her.”

Pegula, 31, will now face 19-year-old Alexandra Eala, who stunned world number one Iga Swiatek earlier in the day.

Raducanu’s Encouraging Performance

Since winning the US Open in 2021, Raducanu has struggled with injuries and inconsistency, but her Miami Open campaign provided a reminder of her potential.

She defeated top-20 players Emma Navarro and Amanda Anisimova en route to her first WTA 1000 quarter-final, securing a return to the top 50 of the WTA rankings next week.

Against Pegula, Raducanu’s aggressive shot-making and movement were on display. After dropping the first set, she raced to a 5-2 lead in the second, only to call for medical attention due to dizziness. Despite the setback, she saved multiple break points before clinching the tie-break.

Pegula, however, dominated the third set, capitalising on Raducanu’s fading energy to seal the win.

Looking Ahead

Raducanu’s performance in Miami marks a step forward as she prepares for the European clay-court season. With four consecutive match wins for the first time since her US Open triumph, she aims to build consistency as she targets deeper runs on the WTA Tour.