Martina Navratilova Believes Stress, Not Weather, Led to Emma Raducanu’s Medical Timeout
Tennis legend Martina Navratilova suggests that stress played a bigger role in Emma Raducanu’s medical intervention during her Miami Open quarterfinal match than the weather conditions.
After missing four set points on Jessica Pegula’s serve at 5-2 in the second set, Raducanu also failed to serve out the set in the ninth game. Shortly after, the 22-year-old called for medical assistance, reporting dizziness and feeling faint.
During the break, her blood pressure was checked, and an ice pack was applied to lower her body temperature. Despite these issues, Raducanu managed to win the second set, but Pegula ultimately secured a 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-2 victory.
Following the match, the 2021 US Open champion attributed her struggles to the humid conditions.
Navratilova: Stress Likely Contributed to Raducanu Feeling Unwell
Navratilova, an 18-time Grand Slam champion, shared her perspective with Sky Sports:
“It was amazing. The way she looked at the end of that second set, you’d think this match was over, but she still won the set, the tiebreak, and kept competing in the third—even though she wasn’t feeling well.”
“I think the stress contributed to that because the weather was fine. It was cool, they finished after 11 pm, so the weather wasn’t really a factor. The humidity takes a toll, but this seemed to be something more for Emma. It’s incredible that she finished the match.”
Raducanu’s Miami Open run marked a turning point in her season. After a tough start to 2025, she reached her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal and secured her third top-10 victory of the tournament.
Her strong performance will also see her re-enter the top 50 for the first time since September 2022. Navratilova believes that if Raducanu stays healthy and performs well in upcoming tournaments, she could earn a seeded position at the French Open.
