Emma Raducanu cruises into Miami Open last-16 after dominant showing against McCartney Kessler sees Brit claim the first set in less than 30 minutes – before American retires
For the first time in a long while, lady luck is smiling on Emma Raducanu. The 22-year-old is into the fourth round of the Miami Open after her opponent McCartney Kessler retired trailing 6-1, 3-0. On Monday Raducanu will take on the winner of Sunday’s late match between her close friend Amanda Anisimova and 17-year-old Indian Wells champion Mirra Andreeva. Either would be a tough assignment but if Raducanu can get through another round it will be the first time she has won four matches at one event since her
Up until her arrival in Florida it had been a horrible year for Raducanu. She made the third round of the Australian Open despite a plainly malfunctioning serve. Then her coach Nick Cavaday stepped down for health reasons and six defeats in seven matches followed.
Her season seemed to be in ruins after the stalking trauma in the Middle East and her breakup with coach Vlado Platenik on the eve of her first match in Miami. However, a 6-2, 6-1 victory over wildcard Sayaka Ishii in the first round was the best of draws, and it was enough to get her going. Her second-round victory over No. 8 seed Emma Navarro featured some of Raducanu’s best tennis since Wimbledon last year, and last night she received her next lucky break when one of the season’s in-from players was sidelined by a lower
