Emma Raducanu splits with coach, proud of Miami Open win

Posted : 20 March 2025

Emma Raducanu secured a spot in the second round of the Miami Open with a commanding straight-sets victory over Sayaka Ishii. The British No. 2 claimed her first-ever win at the tournament with a convincing 6-2, 6-1 result. Her next challenge will be against eighth seed Emma Navarro, a match she acknowledged would be "extremely difficult." Despite the tough road ahead, Raducanu expressed pride in her performance against Ishii and believes she is regaining her competitive edge.

The 2021 US Open champion made quick work of Ishii, a 19-year-old Japanese wildcard ranked 188th in the world. She wrapped up the match in just over an hour, marking her first win in Miami after previously receiving a bye to the second round in 2022 as the 11th seed. Raducanu described Ishii as a "dangerous" opponent and was pleased with how she handled the challenge. She admitted that it had not been easy preparing for the tournament but was satisfied with her level of play.

This victory is only Raducanu’s second since reaching the third round at the Australian Open in January, where she was defeated by Iga Swiatek. Since then, she has struggled with form, losing five of her last six matches, including a first-round exit at Indian Wells. In California, she was working with Slovakian coach Vladimir Platenik, but his two-week trial has now ended, and Raducanu confirmed that their partnership will not continue.

Despite being without a coach in Miami, Raducanu delivered a composed and dominant performance. She took the first set in just 32 minutes, breaking Ishii’s serve three times. From that point, she maintained full control, sealing her most decisive win of the year when her opponent sent a backhand long. Speaking after the match, Raducanu emphasized that she was focused on competing for every point and bringing back the intensity that she felt had been lacking in recent months.

Looking ahead, Raducanu will face Emma Navarro in the next round, marking their first official encounter. She acknowledged that Navarro is in excellent form but intends to approach the match with a free mindset, aiming to compete fiercely for every point. Raducanu also praised her upcoming opponent’s character, noting that Navarro is one of the friendliest players on the tour. She humorously referred to their matchup as the "double Emma" showdown.

Meanwhile, fellow Brit Katie Boulter had a disappointing outing, suffering a straight-sets defeat in her opening match. The world No. 35 lost 6-4, 6-2 to rising American star Peyton Stearns. This tournament was crucial for Boulter, as she had reached the fourth round last year and needed to defend her ranking points. However, she struggled with her serve, particularly in the opening set, where she was broken three times.

Boulter, playing just her third match since the Australian Open, showed signs of rust and gradually lost momentum. Although she briefly fought back to level the second set at 2-2, she was unable to maintain her hold, losing serve again and ultimately falling to a heavy defeat. Stearns, who had beaten Boulter in their two previous encounters, wrapped up the match with a dominant service break, sealing her place in the next round.

Emma Raducanu splits with coach, proud of Miami Open win

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics