Mar 24, 2025; Miami, FL, USA; Emma Raducanu (GBR) celebrates after her match against Amanda Anisimova (USA)(not pictured) on day seven of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium.

tennis

‘I Don’t Need Restrictions’ – Emma Raducanu Shares Thoughts on Her Renaissance Without a Coach at Miami Open 2025

The former Top-10 player has a newfound energy and mentality at the Miami Open 2025.

Mar 24, 2025; Miami, FL, USA; Emma Raducanu (GBR) celebrates after her match against Amanda Anisimova (USA)(not pictured) on day seven of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium.

World No. 60 Emma Raducanu has breezed into the quarterfinals of the 2025 Miami Open with a straight-forward 6-1 6-3 win over good friend Amanda Anisimova. She will take on another American in the form of Jessica Pegula in the last eight stage. The Brit is self-admittedly feeling much better this week, and there may be some key reasons for it.

After failing to get past the Round of 32 in any tournament this year, Raducanu will be delighted with her outing in the Sunshine state. She dominated Anisimova from the back of the court, ruthlessly moving her from side to side and testing her retrieval skills. With a 77% win percentage on the first serve, it was going to take a gigantic choke for Emma to lose from there.

’Free Spirit’ Raducanu Regains Lost Touch in Miami

Now at the young age of 22, Emma Raducanu made history when she won the 2021 US Open as a teenage qualifier. Before the Miami Open, she made some big changes. “I’d say I’m a bit of a free spirit so I don’t need restrictions or being told what to do,” the former Top-10 player said in the aftermath of her victory.

Emma Raducanu is enjoying her best run of form since the the 2021 US Open – and she says it's down to feeling like a "free spirit" again. 🆓 🎾 😃#BBCTennis pic.twitter.com/stC1xtniMg
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) March 25, 2025

Raducanu stunned the tennis world just before Miami, announcing that she was breaking a short-lived partnership with Slovakian coach Vladimir Platenik. Nonetheless, her tennis has shown no signs of this – Emma has beaten three Americans on the trot – including eighth seed Emma Navarro. And she will face another American in the QFs (Pegula).

“I feel when I am boxed into a regimented way then I am not able to express myself in the same way,” she continued telling Sky Sports. Perhaps the most admirable quality of the youngster is her confidence and maturity. She doesn’t mind being different and has no fear when it comes to making big or tough decisions – as long as she stays true to her convictions.

So far, Emma Raducanu is being guided by veteran in British tennis – Mark Petchey. He has previously worked with the likes of Andy Murray, and will be hoping to see his protege go the distance in the second half of the Sunshine Double.

Emma Raducanu

Jessica Pegula

Mark Petchey

Miami Open

Tennis

WTA

Sankalp Harikrishnan

A passionate sports fan through and through, I am currently pursuing my MA in Global Sports Journalism. I specialise in tennis and football writing at The Playoffs News, and I have prior experience working at EssentiallySports and Sportskeeda. Born and raised in Bengaluru, India, sport was my safe space right from my childhood. After trying my hand at multiple sports and representing my educational institutions in cricket, badminton and table tennis, I found sports media to be my calling.