Emma Raducanu has advanced to the quarter-finals of the Miami Open, where she will face the winner of the match between Marta Kostyuk and Jessica Pegula.
Great Britain’s Emma Raducanu delivered a dominant performance against a frustrated Amanda Anisimova, powering through to the last eight of the Miami Open with a commanding 6-1, 6-3 victory. The 22-year-old showcased exactly why she’s been feeling confident in her game, continuing her impressive form in Miami.
Raducanu was unshakable on her serve in the first set, not losing a single point as she controlled the match with her agile movement across the court. Anisimova, struggling to find her rhythm, had no response to Raducanu’s speed and precision. After being broken twice early in the match, Anisimova managed to get on the scoreboard in the fifth game. However, her frustration grew, and Raducanu broke her serve once more to take the first set comfortably.
Although Anisimova called for a physio after the first set, she resumed playing, but Raducanu maintained her assertive approach in the second set. It wasn’t quite as straightforward, but Raducanu broke Anisimova’s serve in the fourth game and was briefly disrupted when she lost her serve for the first time in the fifth. Anisimova started to adjust her tactics, gaining some confidence. However, Raducanu responded by breaking Anisimova’s serve again in the sixth game and secured the win in just 68 minutes on Butch Buchholz Court.
Looking ahead, Raducanu will now face the winner of the match between Marta Kostyuk and Jessica Pegula in the quarter-finals.
Raducanu Reflects on Her Progress Over the Past Week
Raducanu remarked that a lot can change in a week, as she looked back on her dominant win over Anisimova. The British star expressed how the Florida sunshine had given her a sense of freedom, guiding her to her first WTA 1000 event quarter-final.
Her recent performance against Anisimova represented a significant leap in form compared to her earlier setback at Indian Wells, where she suffered a straight-set loss to Moyuka Uchijima.
“I’ve come a long way in the last week, I think, since Indian Wells,” Raducanu shared “I wasn’t feeling great about my tennis then, but this week I’ve had great people around me who I trust and enjoy spending time with off the court. That’s really important.”
For Raducanu, being able to express herself authentically on the court is key to her best performances. “When I play my best, I’m true to myself, creative, and I feel like I play better when I’m not confined by a rigid approach,” she said. “I’ve realized that this week, and I’m happy with it.”
A Mental Challenge Against Anisimova
Though Raducanu made the victory appear seamless, she acknowledged that facing Anisimova, who can be volatile in her game, presented a mental challenge. “It’s difficult to stay focused when your opponent is making errors one moment and then suddenly hitting winners,” Raducanu admitted. “Matches like that are mentally tougher because you have to stay ‘on’ the whole time, and I’m really proud of how I handled it.”
Raducanu’s resilience paid off, and she remains poised to continue her run at the Miami Open.
