Emma Raducanu`s journey at the Miami Open has concluded after a challenging match against Jessica Pegula, where she experienced a worrying spell of dizziness.
The quarter-final match between Raducanu and Pegula lasted two and a half hours. Ultimately, Jessica Pegula, currently ranked as the world`s wealthiest tennis player, defeated the British player.
Pegula, the fourth seed, secured her victory against Raducanu with set scores of 6-3, 6-7 (3), 6-2, ending Raducanu`s strong performance in the competition.
Concerns arose for Raducanu`s health in the latter part of the second set when she reported feeling dizzy.
Despite the dizziness, she received medical attention, including blood tests, and continued to play the third set.
Reflecting on her condition, Raducanu mentioned, “I felt very dizzy and faint.”
She added, “It was extremely humid, and there were extended waits between points. It might have been a combination of the humidity, physical exertion, long rallies, and the challenging conditions.”
“I`m not sure how I managed to recover in the second set, but I definitely struggled more in the third,” she admitted.
Following her defeat by Pegula, who is the heir to a £4 billion fortune, Raducanu is reconsidering her schedule for upcoming tournaments.
Raducanu stated, “I need to pause, reassess my plans. This week was positive, but I need to strategize and decide on my next steps.”
Raducanu`s Miami Open journey to the quarter-finals showcased glimpses of her US Open-winning form from 2021.
Over the past two weeks in Florida, she achieved four consecutive wins, reaching her first Miami Open quarter-final.
While she has progressed to later stages in other tournaments, this marked her first quarter-final appearance at a Masters 1000 event, which is just below Grand Slam level.
This achievement came shortly after she recently dismissed her coach, Vladimir Platenik, after only two weeks of working together.
Platenik commented to the BBC, “I understand Emma`s situation; she is under significant pressure after her US Open victory. Everyone, including herself, has high expectations for her next steps.”
“It`s understandable that she feels stressed. She mentioned feeling the pressure,” Platenik added.
“There are no hard feelings from my side. She ended our professional relationship fairly, perhaps abruptly, but this is tennis, this is sport. We must respect her decisions.”
“She wasn`t feeling well, and it was her decision. I didn’t delve deeper into her reasons.”
“I believe a player must feel comfortable and make their own choices. Sometimes decisions are beneficial, and sometimes they are not.”
