It’s only when you’ve seen the lows that you truly appreciate the highs. That rings true for Emma Raducanu. The 22-year-old recently admitted that wins feel more meaningful now, having “been through so much” since her fairytale Grand Slam triumph in 2021. And in Miami, she showed exactly why she’s still a force to be reckoned with. Though she fell to Jessica Pegula 6-4,7-6,6-2 in the quarterfinals, Raducanu still walked away with her head held high. That was her best run since lifting the US Open trophy almost four years ago. The Briton did it despite battling injuries, a traumatic stalking incident, and constant coaching changes. Even Serena Williams’ former coach believes big things are coming her way.

Raducanu was flying in her battle against Pegula, racing to a 5-2 lead and holding four set points. But then, trouble struck. Feeling dizzy, the Brit called for the doctor. Her blood pressure was checked, and ice towels were brought out. After a brief pause, she soldiered on. She eventually ran out of steam in the decider. But she had left everything on the court.

Rick Macci, who coached Serena Williams to greatness, shared his thoughts about the Brit on X. The 70-year-old wrote, “Emma has felt the difference. Free /flowing smiling/glowing. Little things make the biggest difference. She is a champion and have zero doubt she will win multiple titles and grab a Slam. Win or lose, Emma has to play Her Way, and 100% she is on the right Highway.”

Raducanu’s Miami run was no fluke. She kicked things off with a smooth straight-sets win over Japanese wild card Himeno Sakatsume. In the next round, she pulled off her biggest win of the year. Facing world No. 10 Emma Navarro, she staged a gutsy comeback from 3-1 down in the final set to score a statement 7-6,2-6,7-6 victory. With momentum on her side, the 22-year-old stormed through her third-round match against McCartney Kessler. She took just 30 minutes to wrap up the first set 6-1 and was cruising at 3-0 in the second before Kessler retired due to injury.

A comfortable 6-1,6-3 win over Amanda Anisimova followed, sending her into the quarterfinals, before Pegula eventually ended her campaign. The former US Open champion can find relief in knowing that she will return to the Top 50 again. But guess what? She did it all without a full-time coach. But she did have some outside help!

Emma Raducanu gets help from Andy Murray’s former coach

Emma Raducanu has been operating without a permanent coach in Miami, but she hasn’t been alone entirely. The British pro-turned-coach Mark Petchey, who briefly coached Andy Murray in the 2000s, has been offering advice. He’s been spotted on the practice courts and in Raducanu’s box, guiding her through the tournament.

Petchey has been working alongside Jane O’Donoghue, Raducanu’s long-time mentor, and fitness trainer Yutaka Nakamura. This “different approach” has focused on keeping things fun—shorter, less intense practices, a more relaxed mindset. So far, it’s working. Petchey knows Raducanu well. He played a key role in her early career, long before she won the US Open. Since his departure, she’s cycled through a long list of coaches—Nick Cavaday, Nigel Sears, Dmitry Tursunov, Torben Beltz, and most recently, Vladimir Platenik, who lasted just 14 days.

The 22-year-old explained the change in mindset to Sky Sports. “Having people that I’ve known for a very long time, since before the US Open, is the most valuable thing for this week at least.”

Next up? Raducanu is likely to return when Great Britain faces the Netherlands in the Billie Jean King Cup on April 11-12. After that, it’s full steam ahead for the clay-court season. She’s been through a lot, but this version of Raducanu looks more resilient than ever. Could this be the start of her next big run?