Emma Raducanu could be set for a rankings breakthough after landmark win

Emma Raducanu pulled off a remarkable win against world No 10 Emma Navarro at the Miami Open and then admitted she didn’t know how she got over the finish line.

After Raducanu won a high-quality first set against the No 8 seed in a tie-break, the 2021 US Open champion appeared to lose her way as she struggled physically in a one-sided second set.

The Brit was then treated for a blister on her foot ahead of the third set, with Raducanu appearing to be close to throwing in the towel until she found a second wind to clinch for games in a row and serve for the match at 5-3.

Navarro found a way back into the match and forced a decisive tie-break, with Raducanu’s power hitting from the back of the court proving decisive as she recorded her third win against a player ranked in the top 10 as she sealed a 7-6[8] 2-6 7-6[3] victory.

“I managed to find a third wind,” Raducanu told Sky Sports. “I was absolutely exhausted in the second set and I thought my legs were going to stop.

“I just kept fighting for every point like it was going to be my last. I guess that’s powerful and proof of what you can do when you put your mind to it.

“In the third set I used a lot of emotion. I’ve been through a lot and I didn’t want to leave it there.”

When asked where she would place the win against Navarro in the list of her best in tennis, she suggested it may be her best yet.

“I’d say it’s No 1,” she continued. “I’ve not beaten a top 10 opponent this year. That’s my first one. She made me work so hard for every point and I had to fight and scrap for every point.

“I was never going to beat her by out-rallying here because she had me in that all day.”

She gave more insight into her mood in her press conference, as she suggested the lack of stability around her in recent weeks has not helped her sporting ambitions.

“I don’t think it’s been an easy couple of months. I have had a lot going on on and off the court,” she added. “I think my goal is to just get to a place where I feel a lot more set and stable with my surroundings.

“This week I have amazing people who have known me for a very long time. I feel very secure and happy and wanting to fight for them, as well.

“It’s a really nice feeling. It has been quite emotional, and, you know, it’s taken a lot out of me. But I’m just so happy to be, like, fighting here, and all the wins here just give me extra fuel, extra energy.”

The win against Navarro opens a path for her to make progress in the Miami Open draw, with the highest-ranked player in her section now removed.

It gives Raducanu a chance to make a push to reach the fourth round in Miami and if she does that, she will have a shot at breaking back into the top 50 of the WTA Rankings.

Raducanu was playing her second match since her split from coach Vlado Platenik, who worked with her for just one match in Indian Wells.

She had her old mentor Jane O’Donoghue and former British Davis Cup player Mark Petchey working with her for this match, with the absence of a full-time coach compensated by the presence of two familiar faces.

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Respected coach Jamie Delgado, who is currently working with Grigor Dimitrov, gave his verdict on Raducanu’s coaching position, as he suggested finding a new mentor during the season will be tough.

“It’s never the best time to change a coach or change a set-up during a tournament,” Delgado told Sky Sports Tennis.

“You want that in the off-season so you can get to know the person a bit but it clearly didn’t work out with Vladimir Platenik the last couple of weeks and Mark at least is someone familiar to her. He’s helped her in the past a few times when she was younger and a bit older, so that could be a nice initial feeling for her to get some form back.

“She’s got people around her that she likes, that she trusts, and she’s played very good tennis with these people around her before so that can spread confidence. I’m sure having got through that first match she’s had a big lift the last couple of days.”

Speaking about what Raducanu will be looking for in a coach, Delgado added: “She’ll be after somebody with that consistency and familiarity in the long term.

“I don’t know what Mark’s commitments are with TV, he’s obviously busy as well. It’s something that’s worked for her in the past and in the short-term, it could help her this week.”

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