Emma Raducanu is enjoying her best week in years as she breaks new ground in Florida.
It’s not long ago that the British star was struggling for form on the WTA Tour, as she lost four matches in a row during the early stages of the season.
Raducanu’s defeat to Ekaterina Alexandrova in Qatar saw her slump to a dismal 2-4 record in 2025, as fans questioned whether the former Grand Slam champion would ever rediscover the level she showed in New York four years ago.
A remarkable turnaround has seen Raducanu reach the Miami Open quarter-finals, qualifying for the last eight of a WTA 1000 event for the first time in her career.
Ahead of her quarter-final clash with top-five star Jessica Pegula, one ATP legend shared his thoughts on Raducanu’s recent improvements.
Tim Henman thinks Emma Raducanu’s fitness gains have guided her to the Miami Open quarter-finals
Speaking to the Tennis Channel, former world number four Tim Henman highlighted the biggest improvement Raducanu has made recently.
“When you reflect post-US Open 2021 when she qualified and won it, she didn’t have the physicality to keep competing; she was breaking down with injuries,” he said.
“Now she’s worked incredibly hard on that fitness side, and she’s built that resilience to be out on tour.
“Now, admittedly, the results haven’t necessarily come so far, but I believe that you reap what you sow, what you put in you get out, the hard yards that she’s done on the track, in the gym, on the practice court.
“Her tennis level, I never doubt that, but I think she’s got the foundation to build from.
“You see her performances first hand in Miami, she’s played great tennis, she’s through to her first WTA 1000 quarter-final and she’s got a big match but a big opportunity against Jessica Pegula.”
Henman then gave his honest opinion on who will be the favorite when Raducanu takes on Pegula.
“I think she [Raducanu] goes into that match as the underdog,” he said.
“But I think that’s how Emma [Raducanu] quite likes it sometimes.”
Pegula has dropped just one set so far in the Sunshine State, facing her toughest test in the third round when she edged past Anna Kalinskaya in a deciding set.
- 4R – Jessica Pegula beat Marta Kostyuk, 6-2, 6-3
- 3R – Jessica Pegula beat Anna Kalinskaya, 6-7, 6-2, 7-6
- 2R – Jessica Pegula beat Bernarda Pera, 6-4, 6-4
Jonathan Overend thinks Emma Raducanu has a ‘great shot’ of beating Jessica Pegula in Miami
Speaking just hours before Raducanu’s maiden WTA 1000 quarter-final match, tennis pundit Jonathan Overend made his prediction.
“I think Emma Raducanu is playing well enough to cause another upset,” he said.
“After what happened with Jack Draper in Indian Wells, wouldn’t it be an amazing British tennis double if Raducanu could go all the way in Miami? We’re definitely getting ahead of ourselves there.
“But I think Emma’s got a great shot tonight.”
Pegula and Raducanu have faced off twice before on the WTA Tour with the head-to-head level going into their quarter-final match.
- 2024 Eastbourne R16 – Emma Raducanu beat Jessica Pegula, 4-6, 7-6, 7-5
- 2022 Cincinnati R16 – Jessica Pegula beat Emma Raducanu, 7-5, 6-4
Raducanu beat Pegula at Eastbourne last year, securing her first career win over a top-ten opponent.
She did, however, lose her only career meeting with the American on hard courts, falling to defeat in the Cincinnati Open third round, three years ago.
Only time will tell who will take the lead in the head-to-head when Raducanu plays Pegula for a place in the Miami Open semi-finals on Wednesday, March 26.
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