Emma Raducanu advanced to the fourth round of the Miami Open for the first time after her opponent, McCartney Kessler, retired due to a back injury while trailing 6-1, 3-0. Raducanu had dominated the match up to that point, showcasing confidence and sharp shot-making.
Just days earlier, Raducanu had battled past world No. 8 Emma Navarro in a dramatic three-set contest. Riding that momentum, she displayed a high level of play against Kessler, controlling the baseline exchanges and returning aggressively. Her serve, an area of struggle in recent months, was particularly effective, highlighted by a string of aces in her first service game.
Kessler, a rising star on the WTA Tour, had climbed into the top 50 after a strong run over the past two seasons. Despite her rapid progress, she was unable to find a foothold in the match as Raducanu consistently pressured her with deep, attacking returns. As the match slipped further out of reach, Kessler called for the trainer and was ultimately forced to withdraw.
Raducanu’s recent success comes amid changes in her coaching setup. She ended her trial period with Slovak coach Vladimir Platenik ahead of the tournament but has drawn support from familiar figures, including former player Jane O’Donoghue, LTA coach Colin Beecher, and Mark Petchey. Despite these transitions, she has appeared more composed and confident on court, resembling the form that once placed her inside the world’s top 10.
Reflecting on her performance, Raducanu credited a relaxed mindset for her success. She emphasized the importance of staying loose before matches, even playing spikeball with her team just minutes before stepping on court. She believes that expressing her personality freely allows her to perform at her best.
Elsewhere in the tournament, Iga Swiatek secured a place in the fourth round with a 7-6 (2), 6-1 victory over Elise Mertens. The top seed navigated a challenging opening set before asserting her dominance in the second. With this win, she became the first player to reach the round of 16 in 25 consecutive WTA 1000 events since the category was introduced in 2009.
Another standout result came from 19-year-old Alexandra Eala, who became the first Filipino player in the Open era to defeat a reigning Grand Slam champion. She stunned Australian Open winner Madison Keys 6-4, 6-2 to book her place in the next round.
On the men’s side, Novak Djokovic advanced to the second week of the tournament with a 6-1, 7-6 (1) win over Camilo Ugo Carabelli. The fourth seed is looking to regain form after a slow start to the season.
