In her third appearance at the Miami Open, Emma Raducanu achieved her first victory, overcoming 19-year-old wild card Sayaka Ishii 6-2, 6-1 in just 65 minutes.
The former US Open champion is set to compete against No. 8 seed Emma Navarro in the second round. This will be her first encounter with a Top 10 player since her defeat by Iga Swiatek in the third round of the Australian Open.
‘The upcoming match will be very challenging,’ Raducanu commented in her on-court interview. ‘My opponent is likely in better form, which allows me to play freely, express myself, and strive to compete for each point.’
Raducanu’s previous Miami Open experiences saw her exit after tight three-set matches against Katerina Siniakova in the 2022 second round and Bianca Andreescu in the 2023 first round. However, against Ishii, the match was straightforward. The Japanese teenager, who has risen from No. 381 to her current No. 188 in the rankings over the last year, was playing in her third WTA main draw, previously reaching the quarterfinals in Tokyo last October.
Ishii displayed her potential with powerful forehands early in the match, but Raducanu effectively countered with strong serving, delivering six aces throughout the match. Ishii struggled to maintain her initial aggression, accumulating 24 unforced errors.
Mboko Impresses at Tour Level
Another teenage wild card, Victoria Mboko, also celebrated a victory, winning an exciting three-set match to upset Camila Osorio 7-5, 5-7, 6-3 in 2 hours and 32 minutes.
The 18-year-old Canadian has been performing strongly at the ITF level in 2025. She has already won five titles across tournaments in the Caribbean, Georgia, England, and Portugal, boasting an impressive season record of 28-1. Currently ranked No. 162, her match against Osorio tested her ability to transition her ITF success to the WTA level against a renowned competitor. Mboko successfully passed this test, securing both her first Top 100 win and her first WTA main-draw victory, following a previous loss to Rebecca Marino at Granby 2022.
The match was full of momentum shifts. Mboko’s excellent play led to a 5-2 lead in the first set, but she needed five set points to close it out as Osorio fought back resiliently. In the second set, Mboko recovered after Osorio broke early, highlighted by winning a spectacular point that ended with a powerful smash. Despite this, Osorio managed to win the second set.
Mboko’s ability to recover in the third set showcased her resilience, especially in the final stages. Despite Osorio leveling at 3-3 after Mboko had a chance to lead 4-1, the young player regained control. Osorio attempted to change the momentum with drop shots, but Mboko held firm.
Mboko reached 5-3 again and secured a significant victory on her first match point when Osorio’s backhand went wide. Next, Mboko will face her first Top 20 opponent, No. 10 seed Paula Badosa, in the second round.
