Miami, March 27, 2025 – American fourth seed Jessica Pegula secured a hard-fought victory over Britain’s Emma Raducanu, winning 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-2 in the quarterfinals of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. With this win, Pegula has reached her third Miami Open semifinal in the past four years and will now face 19-year-old Alexandra Eala from the Philippines.
Pegula Overcomes Raducanu’s Resilience
Pegula started strong, taking the first set 6-4. However, Raducanu displayed remarkable determination in the second set, saving four match points and staging a comeback from 2-5 down to force a tiebreaker. The British star held her nerve and won the tiebreak 7-3, pushing the match into a decider.
Despite her valiant efforts and requiring medical attention in humid conditions, Raducanu couldn’t maintain the momentum. Pegula broke early in the third set and dominated from there, eventually sealing the match. The American also fended off Raducanu’s only break-point opportunity in the set, closing out the match with a commanding finish.
Semifinal Showdown with Teen Sensation Alexandra Eala
Pegula’s next challenge will be Alexandra Eala, the 19-year-old wildcard who stunned World No. 2 Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals. Ranked No. 140, Eala has made headlines by defeating multiple Grand Slam champions on her way to her first WTA 1000 semifinal.
Though Pegula is the higher-ranked and more experienced player, she remains wary of the teenage sensation’s fearless performances. History hasn’t been kind to Pegula in Miami semifinals—she fell in straight sets to Swiatek in 2022 and lost a tight battle to Elena Rybakina in 2023. This time, she aims to break the jinx and reach her first Miami Open final.
With the stakes high and Eala riding a wave of momentum, the upcoming semifinal promises to be a thrilling encounter.
