Emma Raducanu moved into the last 16 of the Miami Open after her American opponent McCartney Kessler was forced to retire with a back injury.
For most of this match – which Raducanu was leading by a dominant 6-1, 3-0 scoreline at the time of the retirement – you wouldn’t have known that Kessler was struggling with her body. She didn’t show any visible signs of pain, but then she called the physio and explained that “Every time I take a shot, there’s like more pain.”
Rather than taking treatment, Kessler simply shook hands and walked off the court. Speaking to Blair Henley in her on-court interview, Raducanu said, “That’s never the way that any athlete wants to win the match. I wish McCartney a speedy recovery. She’s in such good form now. We both had tough physical matches [in the last round] and I wish her the best.”
Raducanu spent only 42 minutes on court, which should give her a chance to recuperate further ahead of her last-16 encounter on Monday. “I could tell something was up on her side of the court and it’s really difficult to stay focused when you know your opponent is struggling with something,” Raducanu added, while speaking to Sky Sports afterwards. “I was trying my best to stay on it.”
She certainly managed to do that. Commentator Annabel Croft was so impressed that she said, “I don’t think I have ever seen her play quite that well.”
In fairness, we probably didn’t see the real Kessler – the fast-rising 25-year-old American who defeated world No 3 Coco Gauff last month and has already claimed two WTA titles this season.
Briton exploits Kessler’s fitness issues
While most of this was the result of Kessler’s fitness issues, Raducanu did a good job of taking advantage. She came out with ferociously aggressive intent, breaking to love in the first game of the match. Indeed, she was positively contemptuous in the way she dismissed Kessler’s second serve, which may have been a casualty of the back injury because it lacked any pace or penetration.
Kessler’s only brief moment of respite came when she broke back for 1-1 in the next game. Raducanu might have been a little slow to locate her first serve, but when it did arrive, it was so effective that she served three successive aces at one stage. Serving confidently and returning with her usual sharpness, she went on a run of eight straight games that took her into that 6-1, 3-0 lead.
Despite the asterisk provided by Kessler’s back trouble, Raducanu can be satisfied with her statistics: just six unforced errors, where her opponent sprayed 21.
“I think my movement is pretty good right now,” said Raducanu. “I’m defending better, I’m returning really well. I’m pretty happy with most areas of my game, I feel like I’m improving. Hopefully, I will set up some stability and keep going.”
Asked why she had looked so chilled out on her entry to the court, Raducanu replied, “I took a different approach. Five minutes before the match I was playing spike ball with the team. [A training exercise where you bounce the ball over the net.] It helps me to relax and that’s when I’m playing my best tennis. I don’t like restrictions of being told what to do.
“I’m undefeated so far [at spike ball],” Raducanu added, “but I’m not sure if my team is just letting me win before the match.”
12:12 AM GMT
More from Raducanu
I think my movement is pretty good right now. I’m defending better, I’m returning really well. I’m pretty happy with most areas of my game, I feel like I’m improving. Hopefully I will set up some stability and keep going.
12:00 AM GMT
Raducanu will aim to do something she hasn’t done before
This is the fourth time Raducanu has reached the last 16 of a WTA 1000: Madrid 2022, Cincinnati 2022, Indian Wells 2023 & Miami 2025.
A first time appearance in the quarter-finals will do wonders for her belief.
11:56 PM GMT
Raducanu reacts
That’s never the way that any athlete wants to win the match. I wish McCartney a speedy recovery. She’s in such good form now. We both had tough physical matches [in the last round] and I wish her the best.
I could tell something was up on her side of the court and it’s really difficult to stay focused when you know your opponent is struggling with something. I was trying my best to stay on it.
11:47 PM GMT
Who will Raducanu play next?
Raducanu will play the winner of Mirra Andreeva and Amanda Anisimova on Monday. The former is taking the tennis world by storm winning back-to-back WTA 1000 titles in Dubai and Indian Wells.
11:35 PM GMT
Raducanu* 6-1, 3-0 Kessler
That’s it. It’s all over. Kessler opts to retire after a chat with the physio and makes a quick exit.
Raducanu is through to the round of 16.
11:34 PM GMT
Kessler injury problem
Kessler calls for the trainer. The umpire makes the call and says the American wants to retire due to a back injury but wants to see the physio first.
This match could be over very soon.
11:32 PM GMT
Raducanu* 6-1, 3-0 Kessler
Kessler is crushing the ball whenever she can but Raducanu is not rattled by the aggression at all. A hold to 30 means Raducanu wins her eighth game in a row.
11:30 PM GMT
Raducanu 6-1, 2-0 *Kessler
Oh my goodness. Kessler plays a great point to get herself in a winning position. She attacks the net and her smash clips the net cord and the ball goes wide. Raducanu then compounds matters for the American with a backhand return winner, 0-30.
A double fault by Kessler gives Raducanu two break points. And she takes it in style. Weak second serve is duly punished by Raducanu as she steps inside the baseline and crushes a backhand winner down the line.
Raducanu breaks.
11:26 PM GMT
Second set: Raducanu* 6-1, 1-0 Kessler
Start as you mean to go on Emma! She steps in on her backhand side and finds an acute angle to hit a cross-court backhand winner.
Raducanu quickly secures a love hold. Kessler seems to have little idea how to steady the ship here. Six games in a row for the 2021 US Open champion.
11:23 PM GMT
‘Kessler collapsed completely’
Just 29 minutes for the first set, and that’s what the doctor ordered for Raducanu after her exhausting tussle with Emma Navarro in the second round. Kessler collapsed completely in the face of Raducanu’s aggressive return game. She’s hit 15 unforced errors already, according to the scorers.
11:21 PM GMT
Raducanu 6-1 *Kessler
Patient tennis by Raducanu. Showing great game management by allowing Kessler to fall apart. The Briton gets three set points after just 29 minutes and at the first time of asking she takes it when Kessler strikes a wild shot wide.
Raducanu is on a mission.
11:19 PM GMT
Raducanu* 5-1 Kessler
Despite the scoreline, Kessler continues to be in attack mode and she rushes Raducanu into an error, 15-30. Another sliced backhand by Raducanu draws the mistake from her opponent.
And the frustration gets the better Kessler as back-to-back errors puts Raducanu a game away from the set.
11:15 PM GMT
‘Raducanu has landed some early psychological blows’
Encouraging signs that Raducanu has landed some early psychological blows against the Kessler serve, which looks very wobbly indeed, and has now given up three breaks in as many games. Kessler is making only half her first serves and has won only five out of 18 points in all.
11:13 PM GMT
Raducanu 4-1 *Kessler
Textbook intimidation tactics from Raducanu with her returns as she stands right up on the baseline. She senses the Kessler serve is very vulnerable, especially the second serve and is going after every ball.
Double fault by Kessler keeps Raducanu in the game at 40-30. A backhand slice from Raducanu draws the backhand error from Kessler, deuce.
Short return by Raducanu forces Kessler forward but she puts her forehand down the line long, break point. Another Raducanu return in play. It’s deep and rushes Kessler, who nets a backhand.
Double break for Raducanu!
11:09 PM GMT
Raducanu* 3-1 Kessler
Raducanu will be very keen to consolidate the break she’s earned and she moves to 30-15 with a swinging wide ace. Another ace down the T makes it 40-15.
And she gets a very impressive hold with her third ace in a row. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her do that. Like a servebot!
11:04 PM GMT
Raducanu 2-1 *Kessler
Clean forehand baseline winner gives Raducanu the opening point. Kessler gets to 15-15 after putting away a short forehand.
Raducanu attacks the Kessler second serve to get to 30-30. The Briton gets another look at a break point after playing a smart forehand low to Kessler’s feet at the net. And Raducanu breaks again after coming out on top after an extended rally.
10:59 PM GMT
Raducanu* 1-1 Kessler
Raducanu wins the opening point on her serve as Kessler hits a forehand return long. The American then gets on the board for the first time in the match after hitting a nice angled forehand winner.
Kessler then hits a return out as Raducanu gets to 30-15. A good second serve then brings up two game points for the Briton who double faults. Kessler gets to deuce after attacking the Raducanu second serve.
The American scoops a forehand into the tramlines but Raducanu is unable to take advantage as she hits a forehand long. Kessler gets her first look at a break point and takes it after Raducanu nets a backhand.
10:52 PM GMT
Raducanu 1-0 *Kessler (*denotes server)
Raducanu wins the opening point with a deep forehand return. The Briton then gets to 0-30 after attacking the Kessler second serve. A nice forehand to Kessler’s feet at the net then brings up three break points and Raducanu breaks at the first time of asking.
10:44 PM GMT
Coin toss
Kessler won the toss and has elected to serve.
10:42 PM GMT
Players are on court
Raducanu is first on court followed by Kessler, who is a Florida native.
10:26 PM GMT
Pegula moves on!
Pegula progresses! The American comes back from a set down to beat Kalinskaya 6-7, 6-2, 7-6.
The American, who won the third-set tie-break 7-2, will play 23rd seed Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine in the next round.
10:16 PM GMT
Tie-break pending?
Two straightforward holds and we are still on serve in this deciding set.
Kalinskaya is serving to take the match into a tie-break...
10:10 PM GMT
Pegula and Kalinskaya currently on Grandstand
American fourth seed Jessica Pegula and Anna Kalinskaya, the 32nd seed from Russia, are currently on Grandstand. They are on serve in the third set. Kalinskaya is serving to stay in the match at 4-5.
Raducanu versus Kessler will follow this match.
10:03 PM GMT
Raducanu bidding to reach the last 16 in Miami
Emma Raducanu is bidding to do something she has never done before as she takes on McCartney Kessler in the third round of the Miami Open.
The Briton, who beat world No 10 Emma Navarro in the second round, is looking to reach the round of 16 for the first time in Miami on her third appearance at the WTA 1000 event.
Speaking to reporters after her 7-6, 2-6, 7-6 victory over Navarro on Friday, the 2021 US Open champion said such wins “mean so much more” now after enduring a couple of stop-start seasons on tour due to a combination of injuries and surgeries.
“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. Not necessarily ‘more’ in terms of magnitude, but I would say emotionally.
“[I’m] just a lot more aware of all of the suffering, as well. When I won the US Open, I just won 10 matches in straight sets. I didn’t have, like, the losses, the downs, the months of losing streaks.”
Kessler is enjoying a special 2025 after reaching a career-high ranking of 47 at the start of the year shortly after securing her second WTA title in Hobart. Then-ranked 67th in the world, Kessler beat Dayana Yastremska (33) in the quarter-finals, Elina Avanesyan (44) in semis and Elise Mertens (34) in the final – three players ranked above her – en route to that WTA 250 title.
The 25-year-old American, who also reached the final in Austin Texas earlier this month, put the WTA Tour on notice during the Dubai Duty Free Championships in February after picking up two impressive wins. The first was against world No 17 Amanda Anisimova in round one and the second was against world No 3 Coco Gauff in round two, both in straight sets.
This will be the first time Raducanu and Kessler have faced each other on the WTA Tour and the stakes are high for both ladies as a possible round-of-16 clash against teenage sensation and current world No 6 Mirra Andreeva awaits the winner.
