There is no shame in having been beaten 6-4, 6-7, 6-2 by world No 4 Pegula, a model of consistency on this surface. She won a title in Austin last month, and has now won 19 matches on hard courts already this year. Before Miami, Raducanu had won just three.
That in itself is to be celebrated, since physical resilience has not been a hallmark of Raducanu’s career so far.
square TENNIS Emma Raducanu will be 'chaperoned everywhere' after stalking ordeal
Read More
So to win four matches and complete five at a tournament for the first time since the US Open 2021 triumph is a positive.
“The tennis has always been there, but for me the movement in and out of the corners when she’s been on defence [in Miami] has been so impressive,” Sky Sports pundit and former world No 4 Tim Henman said.
It should stand her in good stead for the summer months too, first on clay and then on grass, the surface where she is probably at her best, and at Wimbledon, because Raducanu did not get the solid block of work every player craves in pre-season, hindered by a persistent back problem and her coach’s illness.
The Brit has picked up valuable points in Florida too. She secured only the third top-10 win of her career when she beat Emma Navarro and for the first time in more than two years, she will be back in the top 50 on Monday. And rankings aside, she is playing tennis of which we have only seen glimpses in that time.
Raducanu can take heart from her performances in Miami (Photo: Getty)“And also just fighting and competitive spirit, that’s something I drew out of myself this week and it was refreshing and nice to have that feeling on the court again.”
She only played two points-earning tournaments on clay last year (Great Britain duty does not incur ranking points) and only won two matches before another injury forced her out for six more weeks.
As well as the French Open at Roland Garros, Madrid and Rome host WTA 1000 events in the next two months, fertile ground to boost her ranking from 48 to 32, where she needs to reach to be seeded at Wimbledon.
square TENNIS Emma Raducanu’s two-week coach says ‘stress and pressure’ ended partnership
Read More
Mark Petchey, former British No 1, has been filling in during the Miami Open, someone she has known a long time – he is often credited with having done formative work on her forehand – and he has been a highly engaged presence on the practice court and in the stands during matches.
But the 22-year-old says she has learned a lot about who she wants beside her during the last few weeks.
“So I’m happy with how I realised that this week.”
Raducanu will play next in The Hague, where Great Britain take on Germany and the Netherlands in the Billie Jean King Cup qualifier before travelling to France for a 250 event in Rouen, and then the Madrid Open.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Emma Raducanu is playing her best tennis in years – against all the odds )
Also on site :