New Delhi: Emma Raducanu cruised into the second round of the Miami Open as she dispatched Japanese wild card Sayaka Ishii 6-2, 6-1 on Wednesday. The former U.S. Open champion who lost in the first round of Indian Wells regained her form against Ishii as she won 77% of her first-serve points, striking six aces and even converted five of her six-break point chances in the 65-minute match.
This fixture has not been a big test for Raducanu as her opponent could not handle the 22-year-old’s power and struggled in every service game as she ended up being broken five times. This victory will definitely boost Raducanu’s confidence as for 2025 season has been a stop-start one with her ranking also sliding down to World No.60 in the WTA Rankings after her first-round exit at Indian Wells.
After the match, Raducanu said, “I’m really proud of how I competed today, it hasn’t been easy for me coming into this but I think I put out a really good performance.” Having been unable to compete at the Miami Open last year due to injury, this win is particularly significant as it has helped her leap up the rankings and brings her closer to a return to the top 50.
Keep keeping on 🙂 @EmmaRaducanu | #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/dDUECgJeWj
— wta (@WTA) March 19, 2025
Raducanu climbed into the top 10 of the WTA Rankings in 2022 but sustaining the level of success has been tough for the young British star due to dips in form and a succession of injuries.
Up next she will face American World No.10 Emma Navarro who recently won a WTA 500 event in Mexico for her second career title before losing in the third round at Indian Wells.
Hunt for another coach
Alongside Raducanu’s win came the news that the British star has parted ways with Vladimir Platenik just two weeks into their coaching trial. Now the 22-year-old once again has to find a new coach since Nick Canaday departed her team due to health issues after the Australian Open.
Raducanu had been training with Platenik since her Indian Wells defeat but his absence from her player box on Wednesday came as a surprise. She was assisted by the LTA coach Colin Beecher, her fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura, former player Jane O’Donoghue and family friends who have helped the 22-year-old out from time to time over the past few years.
The pair had a trial agreement that was supposed to last until the French Open but instead Raducanu will continue her search for a new coach.
Emma Raducanu dominated Sayaka Ishii 6-2, 6-1 at the Miami Open and is set to face World No.10 Emma Navarro in the next round. Tennis Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
