"When she's playing at the top level, she belongs with the top players": Jessica Pegula not shocked about Emma Raducanu's Miami Open resurgence

Jessica Pegula is not shocked with Emma Raducanu's resurgence thus far at the Miami Open which has seen the Brit see off Emma Navarro with McCartney Kessler awaiting this evening for her.

Pegula said that when she is playing at the top, she belongs with the top players. She said that she has been unlucky in certain facets that have held her back namely injuries and consistency.

She added that she understands too why she would be a tad bit emotional about winning against Navarro having won two games in a row at a WTA 1000 and getting the lack of consistency off her back.

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Raducanu could yet be an opponent for Pegula in the Quarter-Finals. Pegula has two games to get to that point. She faces Anna Kalinskaya this evening in Miami at a similar time to Raducanu so both will aim to get closer tonight.

Pegula defeated Bernarda Pera in her opener on Friday. She will aim to return to form after winning in Austin but then losing to Elina Svitolina at Indian Wells in the Last 16. Albeit having barely played last season around this time, Pegula will be a player only rising not falling similar to Raducanu.

“When she’s playing at a top level, she belongs with the top players. I just think she struggled a little bit with injuries, finding consistency,” Pegula said.

“I can understand why she was probably a little emotional. Winning two matches at a WTA 1000, beating a Top 10 player — that’s massive. Sometimes it takes a physical and mental battle to get through that. And in that moment, you’re thinking, `My gosh, how am I going to do this? Not again?’ For her to come back in the third and win the tiebreaker. I’m sure she feels like there’s a monkey off her back."

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