Emma Raducanu arrived in Miami having lost five of her last six matches, low on confidence and struggling on court. A back injury which disrupted her early season prep, the departure of her coach, Nick Cavaday, on health grounds, and the traumatic ordeal of a stalker following her from tournament to tournament across Asia, all combined for a difficult start to the year. Then came an abortive two-week coaching trial with Vladimir Platenik, which ended on the eve of the Miami Open.
Less than a fortnight later, Raducanu leaves Florida a first-time WTA 1000 quarter-finalist and having produced some of her best tennis since her stunning run to the US Open title in 2021. It feels fair to suggest that she has exceeded all expectations in Miami Gardens – and rebuked many of the doubters.
