Emma Raducanu is showing promising form at the Miami Open. She has reached the Round of 16 after her opponent, McCartney Kessler, had to retire due to a lower back injury during their match on Sunday night. Raducanu was leading 6-1, 3-0 when Kessler stopped playing after just 43 minutes.
This marks the first time Raducanu, representing Great Britain, has won three matches in a row at a major WTA Tour event or Grand Slam since Wimbledon last summer.
Raducanu expressed her satisfaction with reaching this stage of the tournament. She acknowledged that winning due to an opponent`s injury is not ideal, but she was pleased with her focus during the match.
In her previous match, Raducanu achieved a significant victory over No. 8 seed Emma Navarro. She described that win as deeply emotional, even more so than her US Open victory in 2021.
Raducanu explained that the past few years have been challenging due to persistent injuries, preventing her from consistently playing at her best level. She feels she is still navigating her way back to top form.
However, Raducanu is happy with her performance this week, managing to stay focused on the court and compete for every point.
Against Kessler, Raducanu played strongly, breaking Kessler`s serve in every game and winning a large majority of points in the first set.
Raducanu mentioned it`s difficult to play against an injured opponent and emphasized the need to maintain focus and control of her own game, which she believes she did effectively.
Looking ahead, Raducanu will face the winner of the match between Mirra Andreeva and Amanda Anisimova in the Round of 16. She recognizes both as top players in excellent form and anticipates a tough match.
