Britain’s Emma Raducanu has advanced to the last 16 of the Miami Open after her opponent, McCartney Kessler of the United States, was forced to retire due to a back injury.
Raducanu had dominated the first set, winning it 6-1 in just 30 minutes, and held a 3-0 lead in the second set when Kessler, ranked outside the top 100, retired.
“I could tell something was up and it is hard to stay focused when your opponent is struggling,” Raducanu stated in her post-match interview. “I wish her a speedy recovery because she has been playing so well.”
Raducanu, who has faced challenges since her 2021 US Open victory, entered the Miami Open with a record of five losses in her last six matches since the Australian Open.
She also recently parted ways with her coach, Vladimir Platenik, after a brief two-week partnership. However, she expressed a renewed focus and a more relaxed approach in Miami.
“I think it’s a different approach this week,” she said. “I think five minutes before the match I was playing spike ball with the team. It helps me to relax.”
Raducanu will now face Amanda Anisimova in the next round, following Anisimova’s victory over 17-year-old Russian sensation Mirra Andreeva, who had recently risen to sixth in the world rankings. Anisimova won a hard fought match 7-6 (7-5) 2-6 6-3.
In another game, 19-year-old Filipina wildcard Alexandra Eala defeated world number five and Australian Open champion Madison Keys 6-4 6-2. Eala, ranked 140th in the world, becomes the first player from the Philippines to defeat a top-10 opponent since the WTA rankings were introduced in 1975.
This victory follows her earlier upset of 2017 French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko.
“Growing up it was tough. You didn’t have anyone from where you’re from to pave the way,” Eala said. “Of course you had many people to look up to around the world, but I think – I hope – this takes Filipino tennis to the next step.”
Eala, who trains at the Rafael Nadal academy in Mallorca, will now face Paula Badosa in the last 16, after Badosa defeated Clara Tauson.
Meanwhile, World number two Iga Swiatek also advanced, defeating Elise Mertens 7-6 (7-2) 6-1. Swiatek’s victory marks her 25th consecutive appearance in the last 16 of a WTA 1,000 event, a streak dating back to Cincinnati 2021. She will now play Elina Svitolina, who defeated Karolina Muchova.
