“It means a lot more than certain matches at the US Open” – Raducanu on Navarro win
The Brit is through to the third round in Miami and will play American mcCartney Kessler next
Zuma / Psnewz
Emma Raducanu scored one of the biggest wins of her career on Friday at the Miami Open. The former US Open champion defeated world No 10 Emma Navarro 7-6(6), 2-6, 7-6(3) to move into the third round in Miami in just under three hours.
After winning back-to-back matches for the first time since the Australian Open and strugglingwith a fixated fan, who had to removed from her match in Dubai, Raducanu said the win meant more to her than some of her wins at the US Open because of the difficult times she has been through.
“I would say not necessarily more in terms of magnitude, but I would say emotionally, just a lot more aware of all of the suffering as well, because when I won the US Open, I just won 10 matches in straight sets,” Raducanu said. “It was, I mean, I didn’t have, like, the losses, the downs, the months of, like, losing streaks.I think to come out of it now, it does, I’d say it means a lot more than certain matches at the US Open.”
“It was a lot of emotions when I won. I know I won the US Open, but I think having been through so much in the last few years, it’s like the wins now mean so much more.”
She didn’t really give me anything. I’m really proud of how I fought.
Raducanu added that she was extremely proud of how she fought on court against Navarro, who has gained a reputation for being a clutch player herself.
“Today I completely left everything on the court. I think there were moments in the third set I thought I was completely down, completely out. I didn’t see a way back from it, to be honest, physically. But then I managed to, I don’t know where, find a source of energy from, and I think I was running on adrenaline. The back end of the third set, almost three hours in, it was very physical, the points were so long and bouncy and a lot of moving and covering the court. She got so many balls back. I mean, I had to win every single point out there. She didn’t really give me anything. I’m really proud of how I fought,” the 22-year-old said.
The Brit added that she is feeling more stable with the people around her, which has had a beneficial impact on her game.
“I don’t think it’s been an easy couple of months. I have had a lot going on on and off the court. I think my goal is to just get to a place where I feel a lot more set and stable with my surroundings. This week I have amazing people who have known me for a very long time. I feel very secure and happy and wanting to fight for them, as well. It’s a really nice feeling. It has been quite emotional, and it’s taken a lot out of me. But I’m just so happy to be, like, fighting here, and all the wins here just give me extra fuel, extra energy.”
Raducanu will take on American McCartney Kessler for a place in the round of 16 on Sunday.
