Raducanu cruises but Boulter exits Miami Open after first round

Great Britain’s Emma Raducanu cruised to a 6-2 6-1 victory over Japan’s wildcard Sayaka Ishii in the first round of the Miami Open on Wednesday, but Katie Boulter was knocked out by Peyton Stearns in straight sets.

Raducanu started fast by claiming the opening two games before Ishii found her rhythm and levelled at 2-2 but the Brit reeled off four successive games to take the first set 6-2.

The 2021 US Open champion continued her dominance in the second set, extending her streak of successive games won to nine as her 19-year-old Japanese opponent, ranked 188th in the world, struggled in the Florida sun.

Ishii avoided a whitewash in the second set by holding serve in the sixth game before Raducanu took her first match-point opportunity to claim victory in one hour and five minutes.

Raducanu’s victory came despite her ending her coaching trial with Vladimir Platenik after just two weeks.

Raducanu’s representatives said: “Emma and Vlado have parted ways. Emma has utmost respect for Vlado and the work they started but it wasn’t quite heading in the right direction.

“Emma is now focused on doing as well as she can here in Miami after her solid start today and will continue looking for the right coach.”

It is Raducanu’s first victory in Miami and she will face the tournament’s eighth seed Emma Navarro in the second round.

Raducanu’s win over Ishii saw her improve on disappointment at Indian Wells in her previous tournament appearance, a first-round straight-sets defeat by Moyuka Uchijima.

Raducanu: Energy was missing in last few months

“I was just so focused on every point and trying to compete, that was my main objective today,” Raducanu said on Sky Sports Tennis.

“I was just trying my best on every point and bringing some energy and competitiveness. Maybe that’s been missing in the last couple of months, so I was really proud of that and it’s nice to win.

“I was playing a tough opponent, young wildcards are so dangerous so I was pleased I managed to come through.”

Speaking about facing Navarro in the next round, Raducanu said: “She can manoeuvre the ball well and has a lot of variety.

“It is deceiving how hard she hits the backhand especially. We’re quite similar in terms of our build and our game I think it’ll be an interesting match-up, and one that I’m looking forward to, and I guess right now one I don’t have pressure on.”

Britain’s Boulter dealt first-round exit in Miami

Raducanu is the last British woman standing in the tournament after Katie Boulter was beaten 6-4 6-2 by American Peyton Stearns.

Boulter asserted herself with a 3-1 first-set lead before Stearns adjusted to pick up four straight games and lead 5-3.

The 28-year-old took the next game but went on to lose the set and Stearns went on to dominate the second to comfortably advance into the next round.

Kyrgios ends three-year victory drought

Nick Kyrgios came from a set down to claim a 3-6 6-3 6-4 win over Mackenzie McDonald – his first ATP Tour victory since 2022.

The Australian is glad to be back but will not be getting carried away.

“To come off and get a win and feel like I belong again was special,” he said. “I never thought I would play tennis again to be brutally honest with you.

“I was having conversations with my camp and my team…and I said ‘I don’t know how long I can keep doing this for’. This (win) puts some petrol in the tank but I need to be realistic and see how my wrist feels tomorrow because it is a grind out here.”

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