Emma Raducanu’s rollercoaster ride in Miami came to a screeching halt in the quarter-finals, thanks to the steely resolve of Jessica Pegula. In a match that swung more than a pendulum in a hurricane, it was the American who ultimately pulled away in the third-set decider, ending Raducanu’s latest surge with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 win.
For a moment, it looked like Raducanu might be recapturing the magic that propelled her to Grand Slam stardom. The Brit played with renewed aggression, pushing Pegula back with fearless returns and flashing her trademark down-the-line backhand. But Pegula, ranked comfortably in the top 10 and known for her consistency and cool head, weathered the storm. She kept the rallies long, forced errors, and capitalized on Raducanu’s patchy second serve—especially when it mattered most.
After splitting the first two sets, the final frame was tight until midway, when Pegula grabbed a crucial break at 4-3. Raducanu, showing visible frustration, couldn’t claw her way back. The loss stings for fans hoping for a deep Raducanu run, but there’s optimism in how close she came to toppling one of the WTA’s most reliable players.
As for Pegula, she marches into the semi-finals with the kind of grit that’s made her a threat at every big event. Raducanu may be out of Miami, but with signs of form returning, this might not be the last we hear from her this hard court season.
