Miami Open 2025: Emma Raducanu bows out in quarter-final after spirited performance against Jessica Pegula
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Emma Raducanu lost out in the Miami Open quarter-finals to world No.4 Jessica Pegula in a close three-set battle.
The British No.2 fought from a set down and displayed some of her best tennis, but was unable to prevent the 2024 US Open runner-up from taking the victory 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-2 in two hours and 18 minutes.
Raducanu has shown this week that she has all the skill to compete with the players at the very top of the game, which will hopefully act as a launchpad for the rest of her season.
The 22-year-old recorded her best result at WTA 1000 level, sealed impressive wins over top 20 opponents Emma Navarro and Amanda Anisimova and is also set to break back into the WTA top 50.
It was Pegula who managed to strike first in the opening set and the American gave her opponent very little to work with. The fourth seed brought a consistently high level from the word go and made very few errors through the opener, needing just a single break before serving out for a one set lead inside 40 minutes.
Raducanu has shown a level a freedom and a relaxed approach to her game all week and the 2021 US Open champion came out firing with some of her best tennis of the season so far in a competitive second set.
The British star took it to another level at the beginning of the second set – adopting the more aggressive style that saw her complete a devastating straight sets win over Anisimova in the last round.
Raducanu was rewarded with a break and a 5-2 lead but was then forced to take a medical timeout after complaining of dizziness.
Despite missing out on four set points on Pegula’s following service game and being taken to a tie-break, Raducanu demonstrated her fighting spirit to rattle off seven of the last eight points in the breaker to draw level at one set apiece.
However, the longer the match went on, the more it would seem to benefit the home favourite. Pegula raced out to a 3-0 lead at the start of the decider and from there the Briton couldn’t find a way to catch her. The American stayed composed to eventually see out the win and book a semi-final spot against 19-year-old Alexandra Eala.
Raducanu will now turn her attention to the European clay court season – including the Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers against Germany and Netherlands from 11-12 April.
Both Raducanu and Pegula are confirmed to play at the WTA event at the HSBC Championships this year – limited tickets are still available.
