MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The Miami Open has seen some thrilling matches and surprising upsets as the tournament progresses into its later stages. On Wednesday night, Jessica Pegula halted the string of upsets by defeating Britain’s Emma Raducanu, who was unseeded in the tournament. Pegula, the fourth seed, won the match with scores of 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-2, in a battle that lasted two hours and 25 minutes. This victory propelled Pegula into her third Miami Open women’s semifinal in just four years.
Pegula's win came just before midnight, forcing the postponement of the highly anticipated men's quarterfinal between Novak Djokovic and Sebastian Korda until the following day. Now, Pegula is set to face the teenage wild card from the Philippines, Alexandra Eala, in the semifinals.
Raducanu, who famously won the 2021 U.S. Open, entered the tournament ranked 60th in the world. Despite her struggles with multiple coaching changes and injuries, she showed resilience during the match. Pegula won the first set, but Raducanu fought back to claim the second set in a tiebreaker, showcasing her power even as she battled the oppressive Miami humidity, which reached 70%.
During the match, Raducanu grimaced through points and even required medical attention as officials monitored her blood pressure and pulse rate. Medical personnel attended to her with ice bags and cold towels, which seemed to invigorate her, allowing her to dominate the tiebreaker 7-3.
However, in the third set, Pegula regained her composure, breaking Raducanu early and ultimately sealing the match by breaking Raducanu at love. Pegula’s performance was a testament to her skill and determination, especially as she is now the last American woman remaining in the tournament.
In another exciting match on Wednesday, Grigor Dimitrov faced off against Francisco Cerundolo in a nearly three-hour men’s quarterfinal. Dimitrov, the 14th seed, managed to overcome a set down to win 6-7 (6), 6-4, 7-6 (3). He saved a match point in the third set while trailing 5-6, showcasing his grit and determination.
Dimitrov, who had previously reached the finals at the Miami Open in 2024, showed signs of fatigue and cramping, needing medical attention after the match concluded. He will now face the winner of the Djokovic-Korda match in the semifinals.
Meanwhile, the tournament has seen significant upsets earlier in the day. Alexandra Eala, ranked 140th, made headlines by defeating the No. 2 seed, Iga Swiatek, in a straight-set quarterfinal. Eala’s victory over Swiatek, with scores of 6-2, 7-5, marked her as a rising star, as she became the third wild card to reach the Miami Open semifinals, following Justine Henin in 2010 and Victoria Azarenka in 2018.
Eala’s remarkable run has included victories over three major winners: Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys, and Swiatek, who is a five-time Grand Slam champion. In her match against Swiatek, Eala remained composed, with the first four games going to at least one deuce, and five of the first six games resulting in service breaks. Swiatek struggled, committing 32 unforced errors throughout the match.
“There is a lot of emotions, definitely,” Eala said after her victory. “Happiness has to be on the top of the whole list.”
In the men’s bracket, Arthur Fils also made waves by upsetting top seed Alexander Zverev with a score of 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a match that had been postponed from Tuesday due to rain. Fils, who is just 20 years old, rallied from a set down and displayed remarkable determination and athleticism throughout the match.
Fils revealed he had been dealing with back pain but managed to push through, demonstrating resilience as he broke Zverev at a crucial moment in the third set. His victory marked his second consecutive win over Zverev, having previously defeated him at Indian Wells earlier in March 2025.
“I was feeling not great in the rallies,” Fils explained. “I’ve had a little problem in my back since I was young, so sometimes it hurts me a little bit. I had to find a rhythm, be more aggressive and come into the court to play my game and not let him play.”
Fils will now face 19-year-old Jakub Mensik in the quarterfinals, who advanced after receiving a walkover from fellow Czech Tomas Machac. The excitement continues to build as the Miami Open progresses, with both the women’s and men’s semifinals promising to deliver thrilling tennis.
As the tournament unfolds, fans are eager to see whether Pegula can continue her impressive run, whether Eala can solidify her status as a rising star, and whether Fils can maintain his momentum against Mensik. With the stakes higher than ever, the Miami Open is shaping up to be a memorable event.
In summary, the Miami Open has showcased the unpredictability of tennis, with upsets and thrilling matches that keep fans on the edge of their seats. As the tournament moves forward, all eyes will be on the upcoming semifinals, where the best players will battle for a coveted spot in the finals.
