Ex-British No.1 explains why Emma Raducanu’s game reminds her of Rafael Nadal

Emma Raducanu recently reached the quarterfinals of the Miami Open where eventual runner-up Jessica Pegula ended her campaign.

Ex-British No.1 explains why Emma Raducanu’s game reminds her of Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal, Emma Raducanu (Image via X/Wimbledon, Forbes)

Emma Raducanu finally was successful in winning four consecutive matches in a WTA tournament since her historic run at the 2021 US Open. In the recently-concluded Miami Open, Raducanu moved into the quarterfinals where she couldn’t overcome home favorite Jessica Pegula.

Raducanu entered the Miami Open after losing six of her seven last matches. En route to the quarterfinals, she went past Sayaka Ishii, eighth seed Emma Navarro, McCartney Kessler, and Amanda Anisimova.

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Raducanu, who has now reached the 48th position in the rankings table, had to toil hard against Pegula as she was feeling dizzy and faint. Though she failed to secure a win, former British No.1 Annabel Croft said her performance in Miami was better than what she had produced at the 2021 US Open and lauded her shots.

You may be surprised by this but I also genuinely think Raducanu is one of the best volleyers in the game. Yes, she is not a player who is constantly attacking the net at any opportunity but when she does come forward she rarely misses a volley.

Annabel Croft wrote in her column for The Times

Croft thinks that along with the volleys, Raducanu has also improved her serve and return, which played a huge role in her resurgence in Miami. While Croft was analyzing Raducanu’s campaign, she compared her compatriot’s game at the net with 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal.

It reminds me of Rafael Nadal, who was so underrated at the net because of his baseline style, but whose success rate was so high when he ventured forward. I would not be surprised if we saw Raducanu up there more in the future, particularly on a grass court.

Annabel Croft added

Nadal bade his farewell to tennis at the 2024 Davis Cup. In his career, he played five Miami Open finals but was never successful in winning it.

Marion Bartoli lauds Emma Raducanu for the way she handled the stalking incident

Former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli praised Emma Raducanu for her run in Miami after the distressing incident in Dubai due to a stalker. Raducanu arrived in the United States for the Sunshine Double tournament following the stalking incident in which a man exhibited fixated behavior toward her.

Emma Raducanu
Emma Raducanu (Image via X/Cancha Central)

From my point of view, coming back after what happened in Dubai, being able to regroup, get herself going, and put aside the disappointment from Indian Wells when it didn’t really go her way, she still kept on putting the hard work and believing into what she’s doing.

Marion Bartoli told Sky Sports

The stalker was later given a restraining order. Due to the incident, the 22-year-old was given extra security at Indian Wells.

This was the second time Raducanu had to deal with a stalker following the case involving Amrit Magar, who had walked 23 miles to meet Raducanu at her home. He was later given a five-year restraining order.

Emma Raducanu to participate in the Billie Jean King Cup qualifying round

Emma Raducanu’s next goal is to help Great Britain win their match against Germany and the Netherlands in the Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers 2025. The matches are scheduled to start on April 10 and will be completed on April 12.

Emma Raducanu Miami Open 2025
Emma Raducanu (Image via LTA)

Great Britain will kick start their campaign against Germany on Friday (April 11), following which, they will face the Netherlands on Saturday (April 12). After the Billie Jean King Cup, Raducanu will shift her focus to the clay swing where last year, she didn’t have a good campaign in the two tournaments (Stuttgart Open and Madrid Open) she played. She had skipped the French Open to prepare for the grass swing.