MIAMI — Tears welled up in Emma Raducanu`s eyes following her hard-fought 7-6 (6), 2-6, 7-6 (3) victory against world No. 10 Emma Navarro on Friday.
Despite holding the 2021 US Open title, Raducanu described this demanding, nearly three-hour match at the Miami Open as potentially her most rewarding win to date.
“Emotions ran high after the win,” Raducanu shared in the post-match press conference. “Winning the US Open was incredible, but given the challenges of the past few years, victories now carry a much deeper significance.”
The US Open victory, in some ways, arrived swiftly and with relative ease. Raducanu, then 18, secured 10 match wins in under three weeks, becoming the first qualifier to win a US Open title.
This triumph ignited a rush of sponsorship interest, with brands eager to associate with the charismatic British player. Raducanu secured deals worth millions, but this only intensified the pressure that came with her sudden success.
She broke into the WTA Top 10 in the summer of 2022, but subsequent injuries took a toll. In 2023, Raducanu was sidelined for two months after undergoing surgeries on both wrists and an ankle, causing her ranking to plummet to No. 285 by year`s end.
Her coaching situation has been unstable, with eight changes since her New York victory.
However, after clinching a tight first-set tiebreak and facing Navarro`s comeback, the now 22-year-old Raducanu rediscovered her inner strength. Considering Navarro`s current form, this win was particularly noteworthy.
Navarro is known for her resilience in long matches, leading the tour in three-set matches played (35) and won (24) last year. The 23-year-old American had won six of her seven three-set matches this season. Yet, Raducanu, displaying a confidence reminiscent of her 2021 form, managed to secure the victory.
Raducanu was aware of Navarro’s third-set resilience.
“Knowing her record in third sets, I knew I had to fight for every point,” Raducanu explained. “It was incredibly tough. I was serving for the match at 5-3, and Emma elevated her game. Then, at 5-4, Love-30 on her serve, she played four incredible points.”
“I gave everything I had on the court today. In the third set, there were moments when I felt completely drained, with no way back physically. But somehow, I found an extra reserve of energy, running purely on adrenaline, I think.”
Raducanu admitted to periods of defensive play during the match. However, in the crucial moments of the third set and the final tiebreak, she consciously chose to be aggressive.
“I decided, ‘If I’m going to lose, I’m going to go down fighting and give it my all.’ My best tennis comes when I take charge early in rallies and commit to my shots. It’s a much better feeling to finish a match without regrets.”
“Even when attacking and missing volleys in critical moments after long rallies, as frustrating as it is, I knew I was making the right choices.”
This match was a unique “Emma Fest,” marking the first time two players with the same first name have competed at the Miami Open since… well, your guess is as good as ours.
Jessica Pegula, who was preparing for her match on the same court, watched part of Raducanu’s win and expressed her support.
“When Emma is playing at her peak, she’s among the best,” Pegula commented. “I think she’s faced challenges with injuries and consistency. In today’s game, with such depth, it’s hard to maintain confidence without consistent match play and wins.”
“I understand why she was emotional. Winning two matches at a WTA 1000 event and defeating a Top 10 player is significant. It often requires a physical and mental battle to overcome. In those moments, you might think, ‘Not again, how will I get through this?’ For her to rally in the third set and win the tiebreaker, I`m sure it feels like a huge weight lifted.”
This victory was Raducanu’s first career win on hard courts against a Top 10 opponent and only her third overall.
“It might not have the same magnitude as the US Open, but emotionally, it feels more significant because I’m more aware of the struggles I’ve overcome,” Raducanu reflected. “Winning the US Open, I won 10 matches in straight sets.”
“I didn’t experience the losses, the setbacks, the months of losing streaks back then. Coming through those challenges now, yes, it definitely feels different.”
