“I’m just thinking less, which is probably a good thing, and trying to just let my creativity come out,” said Emma Raducanu after her fourth round win in the Miami Open, on Monday. The 2021 US Open champion ousted last month’s Qatar Open winning American WTA pro Amanda Anisimova to secure a spot in her maiden WTA 1000 quarterfinal. To someone who’s been following Raducanu’s poor run since her US Open triumph, coupled with multiple tournament withdrawals and early round exits, her latest campaign in Florida looks nothing less than a miraculous comeback. However, Serena Williams’ childhood trainer and former ATP pro Rick Macci believes there’s “ONE MAJOR MENTAL DIFFERENCE.”

As far as 2025 season goes, Raducanu was facing constant early round exits since the Australian Open in January where she crashed out in the third round. She then failed to impress in Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Dubai as well. If that wasn’t enough, the Indian Wells campaign didn’t prove fruitful, either. She was eliminated in R128. But what has happened in Miami? Ahead of the QF round against Jessica Pegula on Wednesday, tennis Hall of Famer Rick Macci reflected on what might have worked for the 22-year-old.

Macci wrote, “What I have seen with EMMA and her game is EXACTLY what I saw since she won the http://U.S.OPEN. But ONE MAJOR MENTAL DIFFERENCE.” And that is?

He added, “She is more free/creative/ playing on her instincts and her mind seemed more open to express her ability not being put in a box and just be the British Bomber.”

Fun fact: Back in 2021, entering the Flushing Meadows as an 18-year-old qualifier, Raducanu had a dream run. She snatched 10 wins in total before eventually lifting her maiden major trophy after conquering Canada’s Leylah Fernandez, 6-4, 6-3.

Following the AO setback, her ex-trainer Nick Cavaday (sixth coach in three years) parted ways in January, citing personal reasons. Later, the Brit brought Slovakian Vlado Platenik, on an interim basis, ahead of the Indian Wells. But even he couldn’t change the outcomes. Eventually, she opted to split with him.

Currently, Emma’s taking guidance from her longtime confidante and coach Jane O’Donoghue. Andy Murray’s ex-trainer Mark Petchey is also by her side for now. “Over coaching leads to over thinking and creates restrictive adaptations and can hurt players more than help and they think too much and put them in a mental vacuum,” Macci mentioned how Raducanu was struggling, a few weeks ago, due to her coaching turmoil.

Serena Williams’ ex-coach also believes if Raducanu keeps her approach unchanged, she can soon break into top 10, yet again. And guess what? It seems the Brit is willing to stick to her ‘free-spirited’ mentality going forward.

Emma Raducanu oozes in confidence ahead of a crucial Miami Open battle

Emma Raducanu began her campaign last week with a straight-set win over Japan’s Sayaka Ishii. The Brit dominated the match with a score line of 6-2, 6-1. Later, she went on to face a solid all-American line-up but succeeded in overcoming each opponent. In R64, she stunned 2025 Merida Open champion and World No.10 Emma Navarro. In a crunch fight, Raducanu emerged victorious with a score line of 7-6(6), 2-6, 7-6(3).

In R32, her second American opponent McCartney Kessler opted to withdraw due to an injury, giving the 22-year-old a ticket to R16. Raducanu then took down Anisimova with a score line of 6-1, 6-3 and moved into her first WTA 1000 QF. Following the huge accomplishment, she talked about the main reason behind her success in Miami.

“I’d say I’m a bit of a free spirit so I don’t need restrictions or being told what to do,” reported The Independent on March 24. “I think when I’m being really authentic, that’s when I’m playing my best.”  Speaking in a press conference, on Monday, she revealed, “I think I’m walking onto the court knowing that I’m going to be there for every point, every ball. So far, that’s really worked. I’m really happy about that, to be honest”

Well, she will have to keep up this spirit moving into her QF on Wednesday. In her fourth American encounter of 2025 Miami Open, Emma Raducanu will face World No.4 Jessica Pegula. The latter’s coming off her fourth round victory over Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk. Raducanu and Pegula and have faced each other twice, with the h2h tally leveled at 1-1.

Will she maintain her indomitable run in Florida and take a step closer to a maiden WTA 1000 trophy? Let us know in the comments below.