Miami Open 2025: Emma Raducanu to face Amanda Anisimova in the last 16 after McCartney Kessler is forced to retire
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Emma Raducanu is through to the fourth round of the Miami Open after USA’s McCartney Kessler was forced to retire in the second set with a back issue.
Raducanu had built up an impressive 6-1, 3-0 lead before the American decided to call an end to the match after just 46 minutes.
The former US Open champion has now equalled her best run at a WTA 1000 event, having made the fourth round at Madrid (2022), Cincinnati (2022) and Indian Wells (2023).
Among British players, only Johanna Konta (19) has reached the last 16 of more WTA 1000 tournaments.
In the next round, she will face world No.17 Amanda Anisimova in a repeat of their clash at the Australian Open earlier in the season.
"I could tell something was up and it is hard to stay focused when your opponent is struggling," Raducanu told Sky Sports after the match. "I wish her a speedy recovery because she has been playing so well.
"I am happy with my focus, it is such a big part of tennis. I haven't been at this stage of a tournament for a while.
“I think my movement is pretty good right now. I think I’m defending better. I think I’m returning really well. I’m pretty happy with most areas of my game. It’s just something that I’m looking to trying to keep improving.”
"When I'm playing my best tennis I'm really expressing my personality. I'd say I'm a bit of a free spirit so I don't need restrictions or being told what to do. I think when I'm being really authentic, that's when I'm playing my best."
A standout improvement for Raducanu this week has been her serve and it continued to show in the early parts of the first set. After the pair exchanged breaks to start the match, the 22-year-old Briton struck three aces to clinch the first hold and from there, was able to build momentum.
In her most dominant performance in Miami to date, against one of the form players on the WTA Tour – Raducanu showed her quality off both wings, winning 17/22 return points against the McCartney serve to seal the first set with a run of five consecutive games.
Just two days after her biggest win of the season so far, and first top 10 hard court victory against Emma Navarro, Raducanu only shifted up a gear in the second – racing out to a 3-0 lead in 15 minutes before the American was eventually forced to retire.
Awaiting Raducanu in the fourth round will be Anisimova, who knocked out Dubai and Indian Wells champion Mirra Andreeva 7-6(5), 2-6, 6-3 in a gruelling contest.
Raducanu picked up a straight sets win over the 17th seed a the Australian Open earlier this year in the only previous meeting between the two.
Anisimova is a former Roland Garros semi-finalist and Wimbledon quarter-finalist, who this season lifted her first title in three years at the WTA 1000 event in Doha.
When is Emma Raducanu playing next at the Miami Open?
Raducanu’s fourth round clash with Anisimova is set for Monday 24 March. They will be the third match on the Butch Buchholz Court, noT before 18:30 UK time.
You can watch all coverage of the Miami Open exclusively live on Sky Sports and NOW TV.
