“It’s gonna be an extremely challenging match, I think. It’s a match where she’s probably in better form so I think I can just go out and try & express myself and compete for every point,” spoke a thrilled Emma Raducanu on meeting a fellow Emma at the hallowed courts of the Miami Open. The 2021 US Open champion set the stage to be one of the biggest hits on the tour but, unfortunately, has failed to deliver on the promise. Though she is now only regaining her form after a series of injuries hampered her on-court attendance, the Briton will have to do better than usual if she wishes to surpass her first test in South Beach. On Friday, March 21, the young talent will take on American Emma Navarro in the Round of 64 for the Masters 1000 event.
Raducanu vs Navarro: Preview
The Brit arrived in Miami on the back of a disheartening opening round exit at the Indian Wells Masters, where Moyuka Uchijima concluded her campaign in straight sets. However, Raducanu earned a win over Japanese qualifier Sayaka Ishii in the first round of the Miami Masters and later expressed her excitement to face Navarro in the second.
Meanwhile, the American sensation, seeded No. 8 at the high-octane event, received a bye in the first round. She jetted to Miami after succumbing to Donna Vekic in a hard-fought third-round contest in Indian Wells. Navarro holds a 3-2 record in Miami and went as far as the fourth round of the event last year before bowing out to countrywoman Jessica Pegula.
Raducanu vs Navarro: Head-to-Head
Both players have never crossed paths on the competitive circuit and, as a result, their head-to-head is deadlocked at 0-0. Their upcoming clash in Miami will be recorded as their maiden meeting on the WTA.
Prediction: Navarro to win in three sets
Emma Navarro has enjoyed a decent run in 2025 so far. The American star holds an 11-6 win-loss record for the season and commenced the calendar with a premature exit in Brisbane. She would soon find her footing and finish quarterfinalist in Adelaide before registering a similar result at the year’s inaugural Slam, the Australian Open. But, the 23-year-old ducked a noteworthy finish during the Middle East as she exited Qatar and Dubai in the early rounds. However, Navarro soon captured her first title for the season by winning the Merida Open title in Mexico earlier this month.
She flaunts a versatile and creative gameplay, characterized by a disruptive approach often proven fatal against her rivals. With a flair for finishing points at the net and the ability to grind out matches, the American player is focused on furthering her agenda in Miami but, her younger opponent might not be easy to dismiss.
The Briton, on the other hand, has a 4-6 win-loss record in 2025. Raducanu kicked off the calendar year in Melbourne where Polish No. 1 I2ga Swiatek decimated her in the third round with a bagel in the second set. Despite shifting focus to other high-profile events in Singapore, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar, the Brit endured premature exits and has yet to win two consecutive matches following her Melbourne run.
She is primarily a baseline player who prefers to absorb pace from her rivals’ shots to redirect them and make them run laps around the court. She hasn’t won a single title since her 2021 Slam finish in Flushing Meadows. Between her US Open victory and Indian Wells’ first round win, Emma Raducanu’s performance in WTA 1000 tournaments has been consistently challenging, highlighted by a current 42.3% win rate (11-15), the worst among recent Grand Slam winners.
With a 1-2 record in WTA 1000 tournaments this year, following first and second-round exits in Doha and Dubai, and considering her previous early losses in Miami, Raducanu’s chances of improving her performance in this category seem limited.
Though Raducanu would want to improve her ranking, her American rival will be the favorite to win in Miami. Given her recent form and results, the second round of the Masters event should see Navarro prevail.
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