In a gripping showdown under the Miami lights, Emma Raducanu’s promising run at the 2025 Miami Open came to a dramatic halt in the quarter-finals on Wednesday night, March 26. The British tennis sensation, who had been captivating fans with her resurgence, fell to the formidable Jessica Pegula in a three-set thriller, 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-2. What made this match particularly compelling wasn’t just the high-quality tennis on display, but the physical toll it took on Raducanu, who required medical attention mid-match after battling dizziness—a moment that shifted the momentum and left spectators on edge.
Raducanu, the 22-year-old former US Open champion, had been a standout story at this year’s tournament. Arriving in Miami with her confidence shaken after a string of early exits in 2025, she turned the tide with four consecutive victories, including a hard-fought upset over world No. 10 Emma Navarro. Her journey to the quarter-finals marked her first-ever appearance at this stage of a WTA 1000 event, a testament to her grit and growing maturity on the court. Against Pegula, the No. 4 seed and a seasoned veteran with three WTA 1000 titles under her belt, Raducanu faced her toughest test yet—and for much of the match, she rose to the occasion.
The opening set was a chess match of power and precision. Raducanu, buoyed by her recent form, unleashed aggressive forehands and held her own from the baseline. But Pegula’s experience shone through as she clinched a crucial break to take the set 6-4, her consistency proving just enough to edge out the Briton’s flair. Undeterred, Raducanu roared back in the second set, determined to keep her Miami dream alive. She pushed Pegula to the brink, generating four set points at 5-2. Yet, as the tension mounted, so did the physical strain. Complaining of dizziness, Raducanu called for the doctor, who checked her blood pressure and pulse during a medical timeout. “She started moving the ball really well, serving good,” Pegula later reflected, acknowledging the challenge Raducanu posed even as her body faltered.
What followed was a display of sheer willpower. Refusing to fade, Raducanu found a second wind, storming through a tiebreak to level the match at one set apiece, 7-6 (3). The Hard Rock Stadium crowd erupted, sensing a potential upset. But Pegula, with 19 WTA 1000 quarter-finals to her name, had other plans. “I wanted to come out in the third really strong, really quick and kind of jump on her,” she said post-match, outlining her strategy to seize control early. True to her word, Pegula pounced in the decider, racing to a lead as Raducanu’s energy waned. Despite flashes of brilliance—sharp backhand slices and fearless shot-making—the Briton couldn’t sustain the pace, and Pegula sealed the victory 6-2 after two and a half hours of enthralling tennis.
For Raducanu, this defeat wraps up a tournament that showcased her best tennis since that magical US Open run in 2021. Her four wins in Miami, including that gritty triumph over Navarro, signal a turning point after a rocky start to the year plagued by losses and a coaching shakeup. “I’ve gone through a lot and I told myself that you’ve gone through too much to leave it to her,” she had said earlier in the tournament, a mantra that fueled her fight against Pegula. While the dizziness and subsequent fade in the third set raise questions about her physical resilience, the week as a whole offers hope. Supported by familiar faces in her box—childhood mentor Jane O’Donoghue and broadcaster-turned-coach Mark Petchey—Raducanu has rediscovered her spark, blending aggression with tactical variety.
Pegula, meanwhile, marches on to face Alexandra Eala, who stunned top seed Iga Świątek earlier in the day. For Raducanu, the focus now shifts to recovery and the clay season ahead, with the Billie Jean King Cup looming in mid-April. Her Miami performance, though cut short, proves she’s still a force to be reckoned with when healthy and confident. As she left the court, head held high despite the loss, it was clear this chapter—dizziness and all—was just another step in her evolving journey back to the top.
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