MIAMI — Emma Raducanu was moved to tears after her 7-6 (6), 2-6, 7-6 (3) victory over No. 10-ranked Emma Navarro on Friday.
Despite her 2021 US Open title being her most significant career achievement, Raducanu described this challenging, nearly three-hour match at the Miami Open as perhaps even more rewarding.
“Yes, I experienced a surge of emotions upon winning,” Raducanu shared with reporters at the post-match press conference. “While I have won the US Open, the trials of the past few years have made victories now feel profoundly more meaningful.”
The US Open victory, in retrospect, came swiftly and almost effortlessly. At just 18 years old, Raducanu remarkably won 10 matches in under three weeks, becoming the first qualifier in history, male or female, to win the US Open.
This triumph ignited a rush of sponsorship interest, with numerous high-end brands eager to associate with the charismatic British newcomer. Raducanu secured deals worth tens of millions of dollars, but this only amplified the pressure stemming from her unprecedented success.
She reached the WTA Top 10 ranking in the summer of 2022, but a series of injuries soon followed. In 2023, Raducanu was sidelined for eight weeks after undergoing surgeries on both wrists and an ankle. By the end of that year, her ranking had plummeted to No. 285.
Her coaching situation became unstable, with eight changes in coaches since her New York victory.
However, against Navarro, after winning a close first set and facing Navarro`s comeback, Raducanu, now 22, rediscovered her inner strength. Considering Navarro`s current form, this win was particularly impressive.
Navarro has played and won more three-set matches than anyone else in the past year. The 23-year-old American is known for her resilience in long matches, having won six out of seven three-set matches this year alone. Yet, Raducanu, displaying shades of her confident 2021 form, managed to secure the victory.
Raducanu acknowledged Navarro’s reputation for third-set dominance.
“I was aware of that going into the match,” Raducanu stated. “I knew I had to fight for every point. It was incredibly tough, especially serving for the match at 5-3, when Emma elevated her game. Then, at 5-4, Love-30 on her serve, she played four incredible points.”
“Today, I gave everything I had on the court. In the third set, there were moments when I felt completely depleted, with no way back, physically. But somehow, I found an unexpected reserve of energy, fueled by adrenaline, I believe.”
Raducanu admitted to periods of defensive play during the match. However, in the crucial moments of the third set and the final tiebreak, she decided to take charge.
“I told myself, ‘If I’m going to lose, I’m going to go down fighting – I’ll commit to every shot.’ I know I play best when I take the initiative early and aggressively. It’s a much better feeling to have no regrets.”
“Even when I missed drive volleys in critical moments after long rallies, as frustrating as it was, I knew I was making the right choices by being aggressive.”
It was a remarkable Emma showdown: For the first time at the Miami Open, two players with the same first name faced each other.
Jessica Pegula, who was preparing for her own match, watched part of Raducanu`s game and expressed her support.
“When Emma is playing at her peak, she belongs among the top players,” Pegula commented. “I think she has struggled with injuries and consistency. In today’s competitive environment, it’s challenging if you can’t consistently play matches and secure wins to build confidence.
“I understand why she was emotional. Winning two matches at a WTA 1000 event and defeating a Top 10 player is a significant achievement. It often requires both physical and mental fortitude to overcome such challenges. In those moments, you might think, ‘Not again, how will I manage 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 marked Raducanu’s first career win on hard court against a Top 10 opponent and only her third overall.
“I wouldn`t say it surpasses the US Open in terms of magnitude, but emotionally, it’s profoundly significant, given the awareness of all the struggles,” Raducanu reflected. “When I won the US Open, it was a streak of 10 straight-set wins.
“I hadn’t experienced the losses, the setbacks, the months of losing streaks. Overcoming that now, yes, it is incredibly meaningful.”
