British player Emma Raducanu has successfully advanced to the Round of 16 at the Miami Open. Her opponent, McCartney Kessler, retired due to injury at the start of the second set, allowing Raducanu to progress smoothly.
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03-25, 2025Raducanu dominated the match, easily winning the first set 6-1 in just 30 minutes. At the start of the second set, she quickly broke serve to lead 3-0. However, 25-year-old American player Kessler was forced to retire due to a back problem.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Raducanu stated, "I could feel she was a bit off, and it's difficult to stay focused when your opponent isn't at their best. I wish her a speedy recovery because she's been playing great. I'm happy with my focus, which is crucial in tennis matches. It's been a while since I've reached this stage of a tournament. My returns were very good, putting pressure on her serve, and I took the initiative from the first game." Raducanu will next face American player Amanda Anisimova or 17-year-old Russian player Mirra Andreeva.
In addition, Australian Open champion and world number five Madison Keys unexpectedly lost to Philippine wildcard Alexandra Eala with a score of 6-4, 6-2. The 19-year-old, who won the US Open girls' singles title in 2022, is also the first Filipina to defeat a top-ten player since the Open Era began in 1975.
Eala, ranked 140th in the world, has already eliminated two Grand Slam champions in Florida, having previously defeated 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in the second round. Eala said, "Growing up was tough because you don't have people from your home country paving the way for you. Of course, you can learn from many people around the world, but I think – I hope this brings Philippine tennis to a new stage."
Eala will face Paula Badosa in the Round of 16, who defeated Danish player Clara Tauson 6-3, 7-6 (7-3). Former champion and second seed Iga Swiatek also advanced successfully, defeating Belgian 27th seed Elise Mertens 7-6 (7-2), 6-1.
The Polish world number two is the first player to reach the Round of 16 in 25 consecutive WTA 1000 events, a record dating back to the 2021 Cincinnati Open. Swiatek's next opponent will be Ukrainian player Elina Svitolina, who defeated Czech 15th seed Karolina Muchova 6-2, 3-6, 6-2.
