Emma Raducanu Advances to Miami Open Last-16 After Opponent Retires
British star Emma Raducanu progressed to the last-16 of the Miami Open after her opponent, McCartney Kessler, was forced to retire due to injury.
Raducanu dominated the first set, winning 6-1 in just 30 minutes. She continued her momentum in the second set, securing an early 3-0 lead before Kessler—visibly struggling with a back issue—approached the umpire and withdrew from the match.
Following the win, the 22-year-old Brit expressed sympathy for her opponent:
“It’s never the way any athlete wants to win. I wish McCartney a speedy recovery. She’s been in great form, playing aggressive tennis, and I hope she’s back on court soon.”
Strong Support & Growing Confidence
Despite playing against an American opponent, Raducanu received strong support from the Miami crowd at the Hard Rock Stadium. The 2021 US Open champion has built a solid fan base in the U.S. following her historic victory at Flushing Meadows.
“Thank you to the crowd—the support was great on both sides. I really appreciate it. When I play my best tennis, I express my personality. I’d say I’m a bit of a free spirit, so I don’t like too many restrictions.”
A Return to Form?
Raducanu’s Miami run comes after a challenging start to 2025, where she lost five of her last six matches since the Australian Open. She recently parted ways with coach Vladimir Platenik, but despite the coaching instability, she has shown flashes of the form that saw her break into the world’s top 10 in 2022.
Next Match: Showdown with Anisimova
Raducanu now faces Amanda Anisimova in the last-16. The 17-year-old Russian recently defeated Mirra Andreeva in a tough three-set match (7-6, 2-6, 6-3) and has surged to sixth in the world rankings after winning back-to-back WTA 1000 titles in Indian Wells and Dubai.
Can Raducanu continue her Miami resurgence? Fans will be watching closely as she takes on one of the tour’s rising stars.
