Raducanu sets up her biggest match since US Open victory in 2021

Emma Raducanu continued her smooth progress through the Miami Open draw, brushing world No 17 Amanda Anisimova out of her path in just over an hour.

This 6-1, 6-3 win earned Raducanu her first quarter-final at one of the big WTA 1000 events. Whatever happens now, she has already accrued enough ranking points to climb back into the world’s top 50 for the first time since her double wrist surgery in the summer of 2023.

This run also represents the first time that Raducanu has won four successive matches on the WTA Tour. The statistic does not apply to the majors, where seven wins were required in order to lift the 2021 US Open title.

As with Raducanu’s previous win against McCartney Kessler on Sunday, there were question marks about her opponent’s physical fitness.

Anisimova had developed a deep blister on the middle finger of her right hand during her previous match – a near-three-hour epic against Mirra Andreeva on Sunday evening. Against Raducanu on Monday, she also needed treatment at the end of the first set for a wrist problem, having strapping applied to the joint.

In both the Kessler and Animisova matches, however, Raducanu helped to make her own luck. She got off to a flying start on each occasion, and there was also a sense that her aggressive, relentless tennis prevented her opponents from settling and potentially pushing through their ailments.

“It was quite similar [to yesterday],” Raducanu told Sky Sports in her on-court interview. “I thought something was maybe going down on the other side, and it’s really difficult to stay focused when your opponent is making some errors and all of a sudden just blasting the lines and winners, and you have no idea what’s going on.

“Those matches are almost tougher to stay so on [message] the whole time,” Raducanu added, “because when you know things are kind of in a way more normal, it’s just like you have to be locked in every single point.”

Emma Raducanu and Amanda Anisimova embrace at the net after their fourth-round match in Miami — Raducanu saw off Amanda Anisimova in just over an hour - Reuters/Geoff Burke

Anisimova is a dangerous hitter who had done brilliantly to eliminate Andreeva – the 17-year-old Russian who came in on a 13-match winning streak – in three sets on Sunday night. The fact that Anisimova had to go back on court only 18 hours after that tumultuous win was thoroughly unfair, and reflects poorly on a tournament that alternates significant longueurs with periods of intense activity.

“It was really difficult with the turnover,” Raducanu explained after her victory. “I mean, Amanda finished even later than we did, and by the time we get back, it’s 11pm. You can’t go to sleep straight away, and we were third on today. So I was really happy with physically how I bounced back. It wasn’t a very long match yesterday, but still, the mental intensity of these tournaments is a lot.”

There had also been some emotional fallout from the previous night’s matches, although it affected Anisimova rather than Raducanu. Rewinding to Sunday’s third-round matches, Anisimova was upset by the fact that Andreeva had queried her need for a medical time-out in order to have the blister taped at 2-1 in the deciding set. After coming off court, Anisimova used Instagram to post a photograph of the blister, and then added a second picture of her middle finger in a different, more aggressive position.

Returning to Raducanu, the fact that this match only took 68 minutes will no doubt help her. Not only did she also enjoy a relatively light workload in her injury-interrupted 6-1, 3-0 win over Kessler, but she now has a day off before Wednesday’s quarter-final against fourth seed Jessica Pegula.

Emma Raducanu is into the Miami quarter-finals 👏

A dominant performance from the Brit 🔥 pic.twitter.com/vfrhUSG59Z
— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) March 24, 2025

In the past, we have seen Raducanu fall prey to physical and mental weariness whenever she has strung a few wins together (again, with the exception of her New York thunderstrike).

That will be a demanding match against an opponent who has won 10 of her last 11 matches, and who blitzed the skilful Marta Kostyuk by a 6-2, 6-3 scoreline on Monday. At least Raducanu can draw on her experience of defeating Pegula at Eastbourne last summer, in what was her maiden victory over top-10 opposition.

If she is looking a little more robust this week, it may have something to do with the contribution of Yutaka Nakamura, the experienced fitness trainer whom she hired in the off-season.

And if she is striking the ball with unexpected authority – given the dismal sequence of six defeats from seven matches that preceded this tournament – that may have something to do with the presence of Mark Petchey, the former British No1 and leading commentator who previously worked with her in 2020. For the past week, Petchey has not only been guiding Raducanu during her matches from the player box but managing her practice sessions as well.

While the exact terms of this collaboration remains unclear, it is thought that Petchey stepped in at short notice when Raducanu decided to end her coaching trial with Vladimir Platenik on the eve of her first-round match.

Petchey was already in Miami as a commentator for the Tennis Channel, and seems to have joined Raducanu’s camp at the last minute as a favour. While his broadcasting commitments make it difficult for him to accept a full-time post with Raducanu, he could potentially act as a consultant, because they clearly gel well together.

Mark Petchey and Jane O'Donoghue watch Emma Raducanu on Butch Buchholz — Mark Petchey, already in Miami working as a commentator, seems to have joined Raducanu’s camp at the last minute as a favour - Getty Images/Matthew Stockman

Might there even be a scenario where Petchey and Raducanu’s previous mentor Nick Cavaday – who was forced to step down in January because of chronic health issues – could share the coaching workload? They both worked with Raducanu before she became famous, which is a common theme among coaches that she trusts.

Many tennis insiders had expected the Platenik experiment to work well, especially as he had spent a week working with Raducanu in 2020. But her interview with Sky Sports might have offered a hint as to why she dismissed him.

“I’ve come a long way in the last week,” said Raducanu. “I think since Indian Wells [where she came in undercooked and was swatted aside by world No 52 Moyuka Uchijima], I wasn’t necessarily feeling great about my tennis, about everything. But this week, I have some very good people around me that I trust, and so I have had fun off the court as well.

“That’s extremely important for me, who’s just very expressive. When I play my best, I’m definitely authentic, true to myself and creative. And 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. So I’m happy with how I kind of realised that this week as well.”

09:01 PM GMT

Raducanu reacts

I am really proud of how I came through that. Playing Amanda, it is never easy. She has had some amazing wins, top 20, won a Masters this year. I kept going for my shots, and I am happy with how I am moving on these courts and feeling good.
I have come a long way in the last week. I have some really good people around me who I trust and who I have fun with off the court as well, and that is extremely important.

08:45 PM GMT

Raducanu back to her very best

4 - Emma Raducanu has won four consecutive WTA main draw matches for the second time in her career, after having won the US Open 2021 (seven wins in a row). Message.#MiamiOpen | @MiamiOpen @WTA @WTA_insider pic.twitter.com/UYINYPxsDr
— OptaAce (@OptaAce) March 24, 2025

08:35 PM GMT

Who will Raducanu play next?

Raducanu will be back in action on Wednesday against the winner of the match between Marta Kostyuk and Jessica Pegula.

Raducanu’s head to head record is one win and one defeat against both players.

08:27 PM GMT

WATCH: How Raducanu reached the Miami Open quarters

Emma Raducanu is into the Miami quarter-finals 👏

A dominant performance from the Brit 🔥 pic.twitter.com/vfrhUSG59Z
— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) March 24, 2025

08:25 PM GMT

Raducanu wins again

Three and half years after winning her first grand slam title, Raducanu is through to her first WTA 1000 quarter final.

Anisimova had no real answer to the high level produced by Raducanu. She is playing incredibly well and she’s now two wins away from the final.

Some big hitters still in the draw but if she can play like this, anything is possible.

08:21 PM GMT

Raducanu* 6-1, 6-3 Anisimova

Raducanu moves serenely to two match points at 40-15. An ace to finish?

GAME SET MATCH RADUCANU!

Not an ace but after 68 minutes Raducanu cruises into the next round after Anisimova hits a forehand long.

08:18 PM GMT

‘Raducanu found the right shots at the right time’

Two big points there from 30-30. The difference between 5-2 and back on serve is clearly significant, and Raducanu found the right shots at the right time. Big sliding serve onto the line for 40-30, backhand crosscourt for the game. They’re two of her favourite tactics.

Minor quibble: the flat serve out wide from the ad court has fallen away in this set.

08:17 PM GMT

Raducanu 6-1, 5-3 Anisimova*

Does Anisimova have anything left to give? We’ve only played 61 minutes as the players change ends. An absolute rout from the Briton.

To her credit Anisimova moves to 40-15 with some decent ball striking. Raducanu stays in the game when Anisimova sprays a backhand long, 40-30.

But she does get the game when she finds the line with a backhand winner. Raducanu to serve for the match next.

08:12 PM GMT

Raducanu* 6-1, 5-2 Anisimova

You can feel the frustration for Anisimova as she misses another routine forehand, 30-15. Kind of sums up her day.

Timely first serve for Raducanu draws the return error, 40-30. Big ‘come on’ from Raducanu as Anisimova nets a backhand.

Raducanu on the brink of earning a place in the last eight.

08:08 PM GMT

Raducanu 6-1, 4-2 Anisimova*

Important for Raducanu to reset and remember that she has been able to break Anisimova very easily today.

She makes the ideal start to this game, moving to 0-30. She then gets three break points after a poor drop shot into the net by Anisimova.

Anisimova saves the first two points. Can she make it deuce? No she can’t. One of the longest rallies of the matches. Raducanu stays patient and Anisimova breaks down again, striking a forehand wide.

Raducanu breaks again.

08:01 PM GMT

Raducanu* 6-1, 3-2 Anisimova

A rare service game for Raducanu where she doesn’t have it all her own way and Anisimova gets a break point with a forehand winner down the line.

And Anisimova retrieves the break when Raducanu hits a forehand long.

08:00 PM GMT

‘Anisimova has just been rocked back by Raducanu’s relentlessness’

The second game of this set does rather suggest that Anisimova’s mechanics aren’t overly affected by her wrist/hand problem, because she was walloping winners in all directions. Again, my sense is that she has just been rocked back by Raducanu’s relentlessness. But Anisimova certainly has the game to turn this around if she keeps going for it.

07:57 PM GMT

Raducanu 6-1, 3-1 Anisimova*

Physio is back again for Anisimova and she receives a massage on that troublesome right forearm. The American looks emotional as she wipes her face with a towel. She looks uncomfortable but is continuing to play.

Vintage Raducanu forehand return winner flies past Anisimova, 15-30. Anisimova forehand long, 30-40. Break point.

Wild Anisimova backhand flies wide. Raducanu breaks.

07:53 PM GMT

Raducanu* 6-1, 2-1 Anisimova

Important for Raducanu to keep her head and maintain her level while Anisimova shows signs of improvement. First serves into play and using the backhand slice will be the key here.

Great serve down the T by Raducanu and Anisimova can’t get the return into play, 40-15. Anisimova forehand long and Raducanu holds again.

07:50 PM GMT

Raducanu 6-1, 1-1 Anisimova*

When Anisimova does get it right, she hits a very heavy ball and we get a glimpse of the danger she still poses to Raducanu with three winners in a row to move to 40-15.

Backhand error by Anisimova takes the game to deuce and another gives Raducanu a break point. Timely first serve of the match for Anisimova to rescue the situation.

And she holds with a crushing cross court backhand winner. Is this the start of her revival?

07:45 PM GMT

Second set: Raducanu* 6-1, 1-0 Anisimova

After around seven minutes since the end of the first set, Anisimova is ready to continue. Can she mount a comeback or will Raducanu get another early finish?

Not much changes in this game as the errors continue to flow for the American. Raducanu does drop her first point on serve when she hits a forehand long, 40-15.

And she holds to 30 when Anisimova nets a backhand return.

07:42 PM GMT

‘She is being humiliated’

“She is being humiliated,” says Annabel Croft of Anismova, who is now having treatment on the hand issue she came into the match with. I feel like that’s been an issue for her, but not the whole issue. Remember that Raducanu has made ten of 12 first serves and pulled off three straight holds to love.

It’s demoralising for her opponents.

07:40 PM GMT

Delay in play

The tournament physio has been called to the court to see Anisimova. Yesterday, she struggled with a blister on her hand. Today she is receiving treatment on her right forearm and wrist.

Raducanu is so dialled in that she has gone to the back of the court and is practising serves. An initial evaluation on Anisimova has led to an official medical timeout.

07:37 PM GMT

Raducanu 6-1 Anisimova*

You could say Anisimova is tanking here. Refusing to go after balls and striking the ball with no strategy or patience.

Raducanu earns two set points and after 24 minutes she wins the set when Anisimova strikes a forehand long.

Near perfect set of tennis from Raducanu. For Anisimova, I’m not sure she could play any worse.

A flying start from Emma Raducanu 🪽🔥

She secures the first set in just 24 minutes ⏰ pic.twitter.com/5dITxc8xnw
— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) March 24, 2025

07:34 PM GMT

Raducanu* 5-1 Anisimova

Raducanu’s serving masterclass continues. The variety in angle and speed is causing Anisimova all sorts of problems. She has no idea which direction the ball is going.

Raducanu races to 40-0 again then shows exceptions hustle and defence to stay in the rally. She hits a lovely short angled slice and Anisimova nets the volley.

Three love service holds for Raducanu.

07:29 PM GMT

Raducanu 4-1 Anisimova*

Anisimova is spraying the ball around and rushing between points. She is irritated and playing as though she wants this set to end now.

Anisimova then gets into a row with the umpire about the ball kids and that loss of focus leads to a double fault and break point for Raducanu. Raducanu return goes long to the relief of Anisimova.

And the American finally gets on the board when Raducanu nets a backhand. Very strange game.

07:24 PM GMT

Raducanu* 4-0 Anisimova

Big difference in body language between the two players. Raducanu is raising her fist in determination while Anisimova is dejected at the other end.

Raducanu completes another love hold. Eight points won in a row with seven first serves found. Very impressive.

07:22 PM GMT

‘Anisimova hasn’t been at the races at all’

Wow, the Sky commentators are getting excited and fair enough. That was a start that says “I’m feeling in a good place.” Anisimova hasn’t been at the races at all, but it’s tricky playing Raducanu when the force is with her because she starts the point well both when serving and returning.

07:20 PM GMT

Raducanu 3-0 Anisimova*

Anisimova is yet to settle here and that’s all thanks to Raducanu who is playing with aggression and intensity. Anisimova is struggling to get her first serve into play and it is making her very vulnerable.

Wrong footing forehand winner by Raducanu gives her two break points. And she gets the job done at the first attempt when Anisimova shanks a backhand wide.

Raducanu secures double break.

07:18 PM GMT

Raducanu* 2-0 Anisimova

Raducanu put on a serving clinic last night against Kessler and she has started right on it today. She races to 40-0 and consolidates the break with an ace.

Very smooth start by the Briton.

07:15 PM GMT

First set: Emma Raducanu 1-0 Amanda Anisimova* (*denotes server)

Here we go then. Anisimova wins the coin toss and opts to serve first. Raducanu moves to 0-30 after her backhand clips the net cord and drop short on Anisimova’s side.

The American fights back to level at 30-30 but Raducanu goes on the attack and draws the error to earn a break point. And Raducanu makes a fast start when Anisimova drags a forehand into the tramlines.

Raducanu breaks.

07:10 PM GMT

Who is Mark Petchey and why has she gone back to him?

We know about Raducanu’s issue with keeping hold of coaches. In Miami, she has been supported by former coach Mark Petchey.

Three years ago, our tennis correspondent Simon Briggs visited Petchey’s camp at the Neilson tennis centre in Messini, on the southernmost part of mainland Greece.

Click here to read about how he operates.

07:05 PM GMT

WATCH: What happened when Raducanu met Anisimova at the Australian Open in January?

07:01 PM GMT

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06:54 PM GMT

Elsewhere, is Andy Murray plotting a return to tennis?*

This is not a drill 🚨@andy_murray plays tennis...#MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/YLSLUxPGp4
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 24, 2025

*He is not

06:48 PM GMT

We have a winner!

going from strength to strength 🫴

Qinwen Zheng fends off Krueger in straight sets to progress into the last 8 of the #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/RqfSIxtwNK
— wta (@WTA) March 24, 2025

Zheng is through to the quarters and that means Raducanu and Anisimova will be on court very shortly!

06:34 PM GMT

When will Raducanu come on to court?

The schedule says Raducanu’s match will start ‘not before 6.30pm’. We’ve just passed that time and ninth seed Qinwen Zheng has been taken into a second set tie-break by Ashlyn Krueger after winning the first set 6-2.

06:19 PM GMT

Raducanu aims for WTA 1000 best result

Hello and welcome to coverage from the Miami Open as Emma Raducanu plays Amanda Anisimova in the fourth round.

Raducanu is enjoying an impressive tournament, knocking out world No 10 Emma Navarro in the second round and on Sunday outclassing in-form McCartney Kessler before the American retired from the match through injury.

The Briton is now bidding to reach the quarter-finals of a WTA 1000 event for the first time but faces a stiff test against Anisimova.

“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. When I’m playing my best tennis I’m really expressing my personality. I’d say I’m a bit of a free spirit so I don’t need restrictions or being told what to do.

“I think when I’m being really authentic, that’s when I’m playing my best.”

While Raducanu needed just 42 minutes to win yesterday, Anisimova beat Mirra Andreeva - the winner in Indian Wells last week - 7-6, 2-6, 6-3 in almost three hours.

“We’re both big hitters, I knew we would go and have a great match out here,” said Anisimova. “She has a lot of variety in her game, definitely a tricky opponent.”

Raducanu goes into the match having won her only previous meeting against Anisimova, a 6-3, 7-5 victory in the second round of this year’s Australian Open.

“I think my movement is pretty good right now,” said Raducanu. “I’m defending better, I’m returning really well. I’m pretty happy with most areas of my game, I feel like I’m improving. Hopefully, I will set up some stability and keep going.

“I’m really proud of myself, my team, the work we’ve been putting in and the kind of environment we’ve been building.”

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