Emma Raducanu splits with Vladimir Platenik, 'proud' of straight sets Miami Open win over 'dangerous' Sayaka Ishii

Emma Raducanu is into the second round of the Miami Open after easing to a straight-sets victory over Sayaka Ishii. The British No. 2 picked up her first-ever win at the tournament with a 6-2 6-1 victory. It means she has booked a clash with eighth seed Emma Navarro. Raducanu admitted that it would be an "extremely challenging" clash, but was "really proud" of her performance against Ishii.

Emma Raducanu of Great Britain reacts while playing against Sayaka Ishii of Japan in the first round on Day 2 of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on March 19, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida

Image credit: Getty Images

Emma Raducanu believes she has found her competitive edge again after reaching the second round of the Miami Open in emphatic fashion.

The 2021 US Open champion beat Japanese wildcard Sayaka Ishii 6-2 6-1.

And she wasted no time in doing so, taking little over an hour to defeat her 19-year-old opponent, who is ranked 188th in the world.

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It is the first time Raducanu has won a match in Miami, having had a bye to the second round when appearing as the 11th seed in 2022.

And the Briton was delighted with her performance, calling Ishii a "dangerous" first-round hurdle.

"I'm very pleased to have got through that," she said in her on-court interview. "It's not an easy first round, playing someone a bit younger, dangerous and in good form.

"I'm really proud of how I competed today. It hasn't been easy for me, coming into this, but I think I put out a really good performance."

The win is only Raducanu's second since January's Australian Open, where she reached the last 32 before being beaten by Iga Swiatek.

Since then, the 22-year-old has lost five of her six matches, including the first round at Indian Wells two weeks ago.

While in California, she had Vladimir Platenik in her box as part of her coaching team.

However, the Slovakian was absent after his two-week trial came to an end, with Raducanu confirming the period will not be extended.

In his absence, the Brit put in an accomplished performance on Wednesday saw her sweep past her Japanese opponent.

She took the opening set in just 32 minutes, breaking serve on three occasions.

The match turned into a procession from thereon, with Raducanu completing her most emphatic victory of the year when Ishii went long with a backhand.

"I was just so focused on every point and trying to compete, that was my main objective today," she told Sky Sports.

"Trying my best every point and bringing some energy and some competitiveness, I think that's been missing in the last couple of months.

"I was really proud of that, and it's nice to win in two sets and in less than two and a half hours!"

Raducanu will now play eighth seed Emma Navarro in what will be their first competitive meeting.

The match presents the British No. 2 with a chance to reach the third round in Miami for the very first time.

"It's going to be an extremely challenging match," Raducanu added.

"She's probably in better form, so I think I can just go out, try and express myself and compete for every point.

"She's a great person. On the tour, she's probably one of the people we warm to and say 'hi'.

"It's going to be double Emma!"

Boulter beaten in straight sets

Katie Boulter was unable to match the achievements of her fellow Brit, as she suffered a first-round elimination.

The world No. 35 was beaten 6-4 6-2 by the impressive young American Peyton Stearns.

The Miami Open was an important tournament for Boulter, given she got to the fourth round last season and therefore had a lot of ranking points to defend.

She was often let down by her serve though, particularly in the first set, where she was broken three times.

Boulter's struggles were perhaps due to rustiness, given she was playing just her third match since the Australian Open.

But she faded the longer proceedings went on, thus missing out on a potential third-round clash with Iga Swiatek.

Stearns at one point rattled off four successive breaks, the last of which came at the start of the second set, handing the American a 2-0 lead and with a toe in the second round.

The British No. 1 did hit back immediately, before holding to love for 2-2, but parity would not last long.

She dropped serve once more, this time from 30-0 up, losing four points in a row to find herself 4-2 down.

And to rub salt into the wounds, Boulter, who had come second best in the two previous meetings between the pair, was broken to love in the final game for a heavy defeat.

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