Emma Raducanu relishing 'really difficult' Jessica Pegula Miami Open quarter-final - 'I've come a long way'
Published 25/03/2025 at 11:41 GMT
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Emma Raducanu is into the quarter-finals of the WTA 1000 Miami Open and will next face world No. 4 Jessica Pegula, in what will be the third career meeting between the two. Raducanu is enjoying one of her best weeks since her 2021 US Open victory and says she is enjoying having "really good people around me". The 22-year-old also added she is "finding the competitive spirit again".
Emma Raducanu
Image credit: Getty Images
"When she’s playing at a top level, she belongs with the top players."
So said Jessica Pegula about Emma Raducanu last week in Miami - and now the pair will meet in the quarter-finals of the WTA 1000 tournament.
For Raducanu it will be her maiden WTA 1000 quarter-final after winning four matches in a row for the first time since her 2021 US Open triumph.
Her run in Miami has ensured she will return to the WTA top 50 after the tournament.
When is Raducanu v Pegula? What’s the head-to-head record? And what have both players said ahead of the match?
When is Raducanu v Pegula?
The women’s quarter-final between Raducanu and world No. 4 Pegula will take place on Wednesday, March 26.
The start time hasn’t been confirmed, but given Pegula is a home favourite, the match could be played in the evening session, which starts at 11pm UK time.
The winner of the match will play either world No. 2 Iga Swiatek or 19-year-old breakout star Alexandra Eala, who shocked Australian Open champion Madison Keys in the third round.
Raducanu: I’ve come a long way
There have been only a few occasions since her shock US Open win that Raducanu has played as well as she has in Miami.
In fact, her performances over the last 10 days have probably been the closest she has come to replicating the form that fired her to a historic Grand Slam title.
Raducanu has been working in Miami with Mark Petchey and Jane O’Donoghue, and has spoken about enjoying the chance to be "expressive" on the court.
"I’ve come a long way in the last week," she said.
"I think since Indian Wells I wasn’t necessarily feeling great about my tennis, about everything, but this week I have some really good people around me who I trust and who I have fun with off the court as well.
"That’s extremely important I think for me who’s just very expressive. When I play my best, I’m definitely authentic, true to myself and creative. I feel when I’m boxed in into a regimented way, then I’m not able to kind of express myself in the same way. I’m happy with how I realised that this week as well."
Raducanu v Pegula head-to-head record
This will be the third meeting between Raducanu and Pegula.
Raducanu won their previous match on grass in Eastbourne last year and Pegula won their first on hard courts in Cincinnati in 2022.
Speaking about Pegula, Raducanu told Tennis Channel: "Jess is one of the most consistent players on the tour and she consistently has unbelievable results, so I know it’s going to be a really difficult match.
"But I think I am playing pretty good tennis and I have enjoyed having an opportunity every time and to be at this stage of the tournament is something I need to be really proud of because it’s not something has happened very often for me.
"I am really happy with the way things are going and more importantly just finding the competitive spirit again."
Pegula backing for Raducanu
Raducanu’s impressive run to the Miami quarters has seen her breeze through three of her four matches for the loss of just eight combined games.
The latest of those victories was a 6-1 6-3 triumph against big-hitting 17th seed Amanda Anisimova.
However, arguably Raducanu’s standout win of the week was when she toppled eighth seed Emma Navarro in a back-and-forth three-set contest.
It was Raducanu’s first win against a top-10 player on hard courts and earned praise from Pegula.
"When she’s playing at a top level, she belongs with the top players. I just think she struggled a little bit with injuries, finding consistency," said the American.
"It’s tough nowadays, the depth is so good if you can’t really rack up those matches and play a lot and get those wins under your belt it can be really difficult to keep that confidence.
"I can understand why she was probably a little emotional. Winning two matches at a WTA 1000, beating a top 10 player - that’s massive. Sometimes it takes a physical and mental battle to get through that.
"And in that moment, you’re thinking, `My gosh, how am I going to do this? Not again?’ For her to come back in the third and win the tie-breaker. I’m sure she feels like there’s a monkey off her back."
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