Martina Navratilova thinks the stress was the real reason behind Emma Raducanu needing a medical intervention during a Miami Open quarterfinal match and not really the weather conditions.
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After failing to convert four set points on Jessica Pegula's serve at 5-2 in the second set, the Briton also didn't manage to serve out for the set in the ninth game. Then, the 22-year-old had a doctor come out to the court after she complained about feeling dizzy and faint.
In the next few minutes, Raducanu got her blood pressure checked and even an ice pack applied to lower her body temperature. When the action resumed, she still ended up winning the second set but it was Pegula who ultimately ended on the winning side after completing a 6-4 6-7 (3) 6-2 win.
Later, the 2021 US Open champion said it was "humid out there."
Navratilova: I think the stress contributed to Raducanu feeling unwell
It was amazing. The way she looked at the end of that second set, you think this match is over and somehow she won the set, she won the tie-break, and still competed in the third but she was not feeling well, the former 18-time GrandSlam champion told Sky Sports.
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I think the stress contributed to that because the weather was fine, it was cool, they finished after 11 pm so the weather was [not a factor]. The humidity takes it out of you a lot, but still this was something more for Emma and its just amazing that she finished the match.
After struggling a lot at the start of 2025, Raducanu turned the page in Miami by making her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal and also clinching her third top-10 win at the tournament. On Monday, the Briton will also be a top-50 player for the first time since 2022 September.
In the same interview with Sky Sports, Navratilova said Raducanu could easily be a seed at the French Open if she remains healthy and does well in the next few tournaments.
