Emma Raducanu stuns Emma Navarro in Miami Open thriller - as it happened
Raducanu dug deep to win a deciding tiebreak and reach the third round of the Miami Open
Emma Raducanu fought back from the brink to seal her first win against a top-10 opponent in eight months by beating Emma Navarro in three sets at the Miami Open.
Raducanu, world number 60, was a point away from trailing 4-1 in the final set and overcame fatigue to win a titanic struggle 7-6 (8) 2-6 7-6 (3) against eighth-seeded American Navarro.
The British number two's mammoth victory saw her win against a top-10 player on a hard court for the first time in her career.
Raducanu, who beat Japan's world number 188 Sayaka Ishii 6-2 6-1 in the opening round, parted company with coach Vlado Platenik after a 14-day trial before the tournament.
But there was no adverse reaction against world number 10 Navarro and Raducanu's aggression in the closing stages was rewarded.
Emma Raducanu 7-6 2-6 0-2 Emma Navarro*
Navarro holds to love. She’s won the first eight points in the third set, taking her streak to 11 points in total.
This second-round match is only going one way I’m afraid.
BREAK! *Emma Raducanu 7-6 2-6 0-1 Emma Navarro
And that is not the start Raducanu wanted. Navarro breaks to love as Raducanu makes a double-fault. The 22-year-old is looking very heavy on her feet as she struggles with these blisters.
*Emma Raducanu 7-6 2-6 0-0 Emma Navarro
Raducanu’s shoes are back on and we are back underway in Miami. Raducanu will serve first in the third set, but let’s see how painful those under-foot blisters are.
TIMEOUT! Emma Raducanu 7-6 2-6 Emma Navarro
Raducanu is receiving treatment on both feet. She’s had her feet on top of a bag of ice and has received a spray. The trainer is now applying some plasters to the soles of her feet.
Emma Raducanu 7-6 2-6 Emma Navarro
Ouch. Yeah, Raducanu is now receiving treatment on some blisters on her foot. She’s taken off her shoes and socks and the trainer is having a look. Raducanu looked uncomfortable in the final games of the set.
SET ! Emma Raducanu 7-6 2-6 Emma Navarro*
Hmm. I’m not sure if Raducanu is moving that well right now. She is almost stopping after the follow-through, and is wincing slightly.
She barely moves for a Navarro ace, as the American brings up set point. And Navarro takes it to level the match.
A very clean set from her. But I’m just wondering if Raducan is injured?
BREAK! *Emma Raducanu 7-6 2-5 Emma Navarro
Ah, a bit of a slump of the shoulders from Raducanu as she nets on the forehand, having gone down 0-40 on serve. Navarro gets the double break and will now look to close out the second set to level the match.
Emma Raducanu 7-6 2-4 Emma Navarro*
A thumping forehand from Navarro puts the American on her way towards another hold. It’s been an impressive response from her after losing the tiebreak narrowly.
*Emma Raducanu 7-6 2-3 Emma Navarro
A double-fault from Raducanu gets Navarro into a deuce game but the 22-year-old holds her nerve behind the second serve. She is then able to find the forehand pass to take the game as Navarro closed the net.
Emma Raducanu 7-6 1-3 Emma Navarro*
A bit of a ‘what-if’ game from Raducanu, who floated a return long and then missed a couple of chances to step in and put the ball away. The unforced errors are creeping into Raducanu’s game.
Navarro has been clean in this second set and has consolidated the break.
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