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 4-5 Emma Navarro*
Navarro whips a vicious forehand cross-court and then redirects Raducanu with ease with a one-two coming forward. She’s looking totally relaxed on serve.
Raducanu goes long but then gets a lethal forehand into the space behind Navarro.
But it’s not enough and with an ace, the American nudges ahead.
*Emma Raducanu 4-4 Emma Navarro
Raducanu’s first serve appears to have gone AWOL - but she gets a brilliant cross-court winner on the run for the highlight reel.
Her second serve, however, has been pretty good, that double fault aside, and one down the T takes Navarro by surprise.
But she can’t find a gap down the line with Navarro stuck at the net, and from 30-0 up Raducanu is under pressure again. Her first serve percentage is at 50%, with Navarro’s at 81%, according to Sky Sports’ graphics.
Navarro can’t deal with another great, spinny second serve, and flings another second serve return wide, so Raducanu holds - just about.
Emma Raducanu 3-4 Emma Navarro*
Navarro looks to have regrouped, stringing together some excellent rallies and maintaining her consistency while Raducanu’s level has dipped slightly.
A couple of unforced errors from the Brit and Navarro gets an easy hold.
Break! *Emma Raducanu 3-3 Emma Navarro
Fist pump from Raducanu as she saves the second!
But Navarro gets another chance from deuce as Raducanu nets.
A terrible double fault and it’s a break back.
Break-back point: *Emma Raducanu 3-2 Emma Navarro
A wild forehand from Raducanu is not a great start as she looks to back up that break, and she drops her next shot just short of the net.
Navarro is upping her intensity now.
A huge ace out wide follows, but then another loose unforced error and suddenly the American has two break-back points.
Navarro makes a mess of a routine second serve return to miss one.
BREAK! Emma Raducanu 3-2 Emma Navarro*
She saves the first with a brilliant forehand at the net into a wide open court, but Raducanu redirects her effortlessly and secures the break!
Great point construction from the Brit.
Break point! Emma Raducanu 2-2 Emma Navarro*
A double fault by Navarro, and suddenly she’s 0-30 down.
She sprays a wild shot wide and suddenly Raducanu has three break points!
*Emma Raducanu 2-2 Emma Navarro
Raducanu plays a stunning cross-court winner with Navarro stranded in the middle of the baseline, and continues to look fairly comfortable on serve. Both players are moving well and have similar game styles to an extent, making this an intriguing encounter.
Navarro lasers a backhand cross-court but it’s just got too much on it, and Raducanu secures the game with another neat smash at the net. Both playing well so far.
Emma Raducanu 1-2 Emma Navarro*
So far Navarro’s aggression from the baseline is paying off, and her low, flat ball is causing Raducanu problems.
The Brit stays with her in a rally, forcing the error, and produces a stunning return of serve down the line to put pressure on at 40-30.
But she nets on Navarro’s next serve.
*Emma Raducanu 1-1 Emma Navarro
Great serve out wide by Raducanu and Navarro can only punt it into the net. The Brit has done a lot of work on her serve, which when she’s on, is brilliant.
Raducanu brings up game point with a great smash at the net, and she’s quickly on the board too.
In terms of the conditions, it looks quite blustery out here, with the ball really flying through the air.
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