Emma Raducanu waves to the crowd following her defeat in the quarter-finals at the Miami Open - Getty Images/Matthew StockmanEmma Raducanu’s impressive run to the Miami Open quarter-finals has come to an end at the hands of fourth seed Jessica Pegula.
The American survived a mid-match surge from Raducanu en route to a tough 6-4 6-7 (3) 6-2 victory.
The British number two had numerous opportunities to snag momentum during the match, but repeatedly let them slip through her fingers.
She converted just one of her six opportunities to break fearsome serves, and despite rallying in the second set to force a decider, was ultimately unable to match Pegula in the third.
Despite the loss, Raducanu’s run to the final eight in Miami marked her best performance in a tournament since being crowned 2021 US Open champion.
Acknowledging her opponent’s strong performance, Pegula said the match was “tough”.
“I played a good first set, a little let down in the second, got it back, went up 2-0 in the tie-break, but it kind of flipped,” she said.
“She started moving the ball really well, serving good... sometimes it just happens, but I just wanted to come out in the third really strong, really quick, and just kind of jump on her and not keep the third set too close.”
Pegula will face 19-year-old wild card Alexandra Eala in the semi-finals, after the Filipino upset world number two Iga Swiatek 6-2 7-5 in their quarter-final clash.
There was also a shock result in the men’s tournament, with top seed Alexander Zverev falling to French 17th seed Arthur Fils.
03:28 AM GMT
Pegula wins 6-4, 6-7, 6-2
Raducanu nets a backhand to start as Pegula goes 0-15. A lovely backhand slice drop shot then gets the American to 0-30. Pegula follows that up with a forehand winner cross on the run.
Three match points for the American and she takes it at the first time of asking. Superb display from the American in what was a high quality contest.
Raducanu more than played her part in what was a very good battle.
Raducanu and Pegula shake hands at the conclusion of their quarter-final match at the Miami Open - Reuters/Geoff Burke03:21 AM GMT
Raducanu 4-6, 7-6, 2-5 *Pegula
Raducanu wins the opening point after dictating with her backhand slice. A good serve out wide then sees Pegula get to 15-15 before she rips another forehand winner to go 30-15. Pegula holds to 15 as she edges ever closer to victory.
Raducanu will serve to stay in the match next.
03:18 AM GMT
Raducanu* 4-6, 7-6, 2-4 Pegula
Pegula nets a regulation backhand slice as Raducanu wins the opening point. A drawn out rally sees Pegula get to 15-15 as Raducanu nets a backhand. The Briton then gets to 30-15 as Pegula nets a return.
The American gets to 30-30 after a clean forehand winner. A deep forehand from Raducanu then draws a Pegula error and Raducanu holds again.
03:14 AM GMT
Raducanu 4-6, 7-6, 1-4 *Pegula
Some clean hitting from Pegula sees her hold to love as the American looks to close things out in this deciding set
03:12 AM GMT
Raducanu* 4-6, 7-6, 1-3 Pegula
Raducanu races to a 30-0 lead as Pegula hits a couple of errors. A well-worked point from Raducanu then sees the Briton get to 40-0 before Pegula crushes a return winner to go 40-15 but Raducanu sees out the game. Good hold to get on the board in this third set.
03:07 AM GMT
Raducanu 4-6, 7-6, 0-3 *Pegula
Raducanu wins the opening point after taking charge of the rally early on. The Briton then gets 0-30 after Raducanu finds the line on a return. Raducanu then nets a backhand as Pegula gets to 30-30. A huge backhand return winner gets Raducanu to 30-40 but Pegula saves break point after hanging in a long rally. Deuce.
A clever body serve jams up Raducanu and Pegula holds to consolidate the break.
03:01 AM GMT
Raducanu* 4-6, 7-6, 0-2 Pegula
Raducanu gets things started with an ace before a backhand pass sees Pegula get to 15-15. The American then gets to 15-30 with a nice backhand winner down the line. Raducanu then sees a forehand drive volley fall out as Pegula gets a look at two break points.
Raducanu saves the first and the second as Pegula hits a backhand long. Deuce. Advantage Pegula as Raducanu nets a forehand. And Pegula breaks!
02:56 AM GMT
Raducanu 4-6, 7-6, 0-1 *Pegula
Pegula holds to 15 to get things started in this deciding set as she closes out the opening game with an ace.
02:51 AM GMT
Raducanu takes the second-set tie-break
Raducanu sprays a forehand out wide. 1-0 Pegula.
Pegula then wins the second point after drawing another error from the Briton.
Raducanu gets on the board with lovely forehand winner.
Raducanu takes the lead with a backhand volley. 3-2 Raducanu
Pegula nets a backhand as Raducanu goes 4-2 up.
Good forehand deep to Raducanu’s forehand draws an error from the Briton who still leads.
A composed smash then gives Raducanu a 5-3 lead.
An excellent serve-plus-one then gives Raducanu a look at three set points and she takes it the first time of asking.
can never count her out 🙅♀️@EmmaRaducanu strikes back 7-6(3) to force a decider against Pegula!#MiamiOpenpic.twitter.com/u9hHrN6VIS
— wta (@WTA) March 27, 202502:44 AM GMT
Raducanu 4-6, 6-6 *Pegula
Pegula gets to 40-0 before some good scrapping sees Raducanu get to 40-30. The American does eventually hold to take this second set into a tie-break.
02:40 AM GMT
Raducanu* 4-6, 6-5 Pegula
Raducanu races to a 30-0 lead and gets to 40-0 after Pegula nets a forehand return.
A brilliant hold to love as the doctor comes out again to attend to the Briton.
02:37 AM GMT
Raducanu 4-6, 5-5 *Pegula
Pegula wins the opening point after a drawn out rally. Raducanu then gets to 15-15 before two well played, quick points sees Pegula level things up in this second set. We are all square again.
02:31 AM GMT
Medical timeout for Raducanu
The Briton was telling her box she felt dizzy at 5-3 in this second.
She is currently her having blood pressure checked and looks to be in discomfort as a medical timeout is called.
Raducanu feeling it physically in Miami - Getty Images/Matthew Stockman02:27 AM GMT
Raducanu* 4-6, 5-4 Pegula
Pegula crushes a forehand return winner down the line to go 0-15. A Raducanu drive volley gets the Briton to 15-15 before Pegula hits a nice inside-out forehand winner to go 15-30.
A bold but well-executed forehand drop shot then gets Raducanu to 30-30 before Pegula attacks the Raducanu second serve to get to break point. Raducanu saves it with a good first serve to the body but then goes long with a forehand in the next point.
Pegula breaks back as the doctor comes out to attend to Raducanu.
02:21 AM GMT
Raducanu 4-6, 5-3 *Pegula
Pegula starts the game with a double fault before putting away a mid-court backhand to get to 15-15. An ace then sees the American get to 30-15 before Raducanu nets a ground stroke from the baseline.
Another big return from Raducanu gets her to deuce before she gets a break point at 30-40. Pegula saves it but then hits another error.
The American eventually holds after saving four break points.
02:11 AM GMT
Raducanu* 4-6, 5-2 Pegula
Raducanu gets to 30-0 after two quality points – the Briton’s forehand down the line has been one of her go-to shots in this contest.
A clever first serve out wide sees Raducanu get to 40-0 and she holds to love as she closes in on this second set. That was a superb hold.
02:07 AM GMT
Raducanu 4-6, 4-2 *Pegula
Pegula wins the opening point as Raducanu nets a forehand. The American then gets to 30-0 after hitting a forehand winner down the line. An ace then brings up three game points for the American who holds to love.
02:05 AM GMT
Raducanu* 4-6, 4-1 Pegula
Raducanu races out to a 30-0 lead before bringing up three game points with an ace out wide. Pegula crushes a forehand return winner down the line to save the first before spraying another forehand out as Raducanu consolidates the break with a hold to 15.
02:02 AM GMT
Raducanu 4-6, 3-1 *Pegula
After getting hold of a Pegula second serve, Raducanu hits a clean backhand winner down the line to go 0-15. The American then quickly wins the next two points but Raducanu gets a break point look at 30-40. And Raducanu breaks at the first time of asking.
01:57 AM GMT
Raducanu* 4-6, 2-1 Pegula
Raducanu pushes a backhand long to go down 0-15 before hitting a nice forehand pass to get to 15-15. A nice serve-plus-one – finished on the backhand side – then gets the Briton to 30-15. And Briton holds to 15 as Pegula nets a backhand.
01:53 AM GMT
Raducanu 4-6, 1-1 *Pegula
Raducanu wins the opening point before Pegula gets to 15-15 with a forehand winner. An incredible rally at 30-15 sees Pegula come out on top after some incredible court coverage from the American. Raducanu wins the next point but Pegula sees out the game to 30 to level things up in this second set.
01:49 AM GMT
Raducanu* 4-6, 1-0 Pegula
Pegula races out to a 0-30 lead before Raducanu gets on the board at 15-30. The Briton saves a break point at 30-40 before showing more grit to get to game point. Pegula is able to get to deuce after drawing another error from the Briton but Raducanu does eventually hold after a Pegula forehand sails long.
Important hold from Raducanu to get this second set started.
01:40 AM GMT
Raducanu 4-6 *Pegula
Raducanu sees a forehand sail long after an extended baseline rally. Pegula then brings Raducanu forward after playing a nice drop shot that Briton hits out. A good return winner gets Raducanu to 15-30 before Pegula nets a forehand to go 30-30. The American then sprays a forehand out as the game goes to deuce.
Another ace brings up another set point for the American who eventually sees out the game and the first set on her third set point.
Jessica Pegula leads Emma Raducanu in the Miami Open quarter-final - Getty Images/Matthew Stockman01:33 AM GMT
Raducanu* 4-5 Pegula
A lucky net cord helps Pegula win the opening point. A low return then sees Pegula get to 0-30 before Raducanu draws an error from the American on her return. Raducanu then gets to 30-30 after a nice angled forehand volley before a clever body serve brings up game point and Briton holds. Pegula will serve for the first set after the sitdown.
01:30 AM GMT
Raducanu 3-5 *Pegula
Pegula races to 30-0 before Raducanu gets on the board with a nice volley winner. The American then gets the better of Raducanu after another extended baseline exchange before Raducanu hits a backhand return long to concede the game to the American.
01:25 AM GMT
Raducanu* 3-4 Pegula
Raducanu wins the opening point as Pegula drags a backhand return into the tramlines. A nice forehand drive volley gets the Briton to 30-15 before Pegula comes out on top after another drawn out rally. A nice backhand winner down the line gets Raducanu to game point before the Briton sees Pegula push a volley long. Good hold from Raducanu.
01:21 AM GMT
Raducanu 2-4 *Pegula
Pegula consolidates the break with a quick hold to love. The American secured the game with a nice backhand dropshot.
01:18 AM GMT
Raducanu* 2-3 Pegula
Raducanu loses the opening point after pushing a forehand long. The Briton then hits an ace to get to 15-15 before Pegula forces Raducanu further back with deep backhand.
Pegula then shows off her soft hands to get to 15-40 before Raducanu finds a good body serve to save the first break point but she is unable to save the second after Pegula forces another error from the Briton. The American breaks first.
lil bit of EVERYTHING 🔥
how about this point from @JPegula and @EmmaRaducanu#MiamiOpenpic.twitter.com/WRwXBLMAzw
01:14 AM GMT
Raducanu 2-2 *Pegula
Nice forehand volley sees Pegula win the first point before Raducanu nets a backhand to fall 30-0 behind. Pegula hits her second ace of the match to go 40-0 before Raducanu gets on the board following a Pegula error. Pegula eventually holds to 15.
01:10 AM GMT
Raducanu* 2-1 Pegula
Raducanu draws an error from Pegula to win the opening point before the American hits a forehand return long to fall 30-0 behind.
A nice backhand return winner gets the American to 15-40 before Raducanu hits a forehand long to go 30-40. Another backhand-to-backhand exchange from the baseline sees the Briton win the point as Pegula goes long.
01:06 AM GMT
Raducanu 1-1 *Pegula
Nice rally at 15-0 sees Pegula get the better of Raducanu after some clean ball striking from the baseline. The American closes out her first service game with an ace as she holds to love.
01:03 AM GMT
Raducanu* 1-0 Pegula (*denotes server)
Raducanu wins the opening point as Pegula nets a forehand return. Raducanu then gets to 30-0 after coming out on top after an extended rally. Pegula then gets on the board after Raducanu hits a short forehand long before finding a good first serve to bring up two game points and Briton holds to 15 to get things started.
12:58 AM GMT
Coin toss
Pegula won the toss and elected to receive.
12:57 AM GMT
The players are on court
Two hours after originally scheduled, Raducanu and Pegula are finally on court and warming up.
12:42 AM GMT
Raducanu and Pegula expected on court soon
Emma Raducanu and Jessica Pegula are expected to walk out on court just before 9pm local time (1am UK time).
12:34 AM GMT
Dimitrov is a Mimi Open semi-finalist
From 0-3 down in the third set, Grigor Dimitrov wins 6-7, 6-4, 7-6.
A brilliant effort from the Bulgarian who saved a match point en route to victory.
He will face the winner between Novak Djokovic and Sebastian Korda.
COMEBACK: COMPLETE 🥵@GrigorDimitrov leaves it all on the court, saving a match point and going on to defeat Cerundolo for a spot in the semi-finals! @MiamiOpen | #MiamiOpenpic.twitter.com/Ag321wNP9e
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 27, 202512:21 AM GMT
Tie-break it is
Dimitrov holds, somehow. A tie-break will decide this one.
Grigor Dimitrov was on the brink of defeat against Francisco Cerundolo - Getty Images/Rich Storry12:13 AM GMT
Cerundolo a game away again!
Dimitrov held at 4-5 to extend this third set before Cerundolo held to love to get within a game away from victory again.
Can Dimitrov take it to a tie-break or will Cerundolo get it done here?
12:08 AM GMT
Dimitrov serving to stay in the match
Cerundolo is a game away from the last eight as Dimitrov comes out to serve to stay in the match at 4-5.
12:05 AM GMT
Swiatek ousted by world No 140
Earlier today, world No 2 Iga Swiatek suffered a shock defeat at the hands of 19-year-old world No 140 Alexandra Eala.
The Pole, who revealed she was harassed by a heckling fan on the practice courts the day before the match, says the loss was not down to the “aggressive and taunting” behaviour of the heckler.
Simon Briggs has more on that, here.
11:54 PM GMT
Dimitrov and Cerundolo playing a deciding set on Stadium Court
The 14th seed Grigor Dimitrov and Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina are currently in the deciding set on Stadium Court.
The Argentine 23rd seed is 3-2 up after breaking the Bulgarian, who is physically struggling, at the first time of asking. Dimitrov, out of nowhere though, has broken back and we are back on serve.
Raducanu and Pegula will follow this men’s quarter-final.
Francisco Cerundolo was up 3-0 in the third set - Shutterstock/Cristobal Herrera Ulashkevich11:40 PM GMT
Raducanu faces Pegula for a place in the last four in Miami
Emma Raducanu faces Jessica Pegula for the third time as the Briton looks to book a place in her first WTA 1000 semi-final.
Raducanu has had a fantastic tournament so far securing wins against Sayaka Ishii in the first round, a brilliant three-set victory over world No 10 Emma Navarro in the second round, a ruthless but fortunate win against a physically hindered McCartney Kessler in the third round and an impressive straight-sets routing of 17th seed Amanda Anisimova in the round of 16.
Speaking after beating Anisimova for the second time this year on Monday, Raducanu said: “The biggest thing I’m proud of is just finding the competitive spirit and being there for every ball and drawing that out of myself. I think that’s kind of been missing in the last few months and even a few years at times.
“Just feeling a lot of hunger, feeling on the court competitive, wanting to run down every ball, and that’s the biggest win I would say from this week.”
Raducanu will expect to do more running against her American opponent this evening. Pegula, the current world No 4, is a two-time Miami Open semi-finalist and has looked good in all three of her matches so far.
The 31-year-old American, who received a first-round bye, saw off fellow countrywoman Bernarda Pera in straight sets in her opening match, then came back from a set down against 32nd seed Anna Kalinskaya of Russia in the third round before a smooth straight-sets win over Ukrainian 23rd seed Marta Kostyuk in the round of 16.
This quarter-final is evenly poised as the Raducanu-Pegula head-to-head is tied at 1-1. Pegula came out on top after their first meeting in Cincinnati (hard courts) in 2022, but Raducanu got her revenge on the grass courts of Eastbourne last year.
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