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Jakub Mensik revealed a Lionel Messi-handshake powered him to a surprise semi-final victory in the Miami Open.

Mensik reached the final of a Masters 1000 tournament for the first time in his career as the 19-year-old aced his way past Taylor Fritz but beforehand, he had a special visit from football superstar Messi.

The Argentinian, who after a glittering career in Europe, now plays for Inter Miami, 20 miles from the Miami Open venue, met with the Czech ahead of the game.

Mensik revealed he did not wash his hand after shaking Messi’s hand in the build-up to the semi-final match.

“Meeting this legend, not even a human, it’s not happening every day,” Mensik said.

“I was shaking his hand… kind of chilling with him a little bit. I didn’t wash my hand before I stepped on the court, and probably that was the key for today.”

The meeting left a lasting impression on Mensik who, after securing the win, wrote “Thx Leo” on the camera lens.

Standing in the way of the Czech and his first title is Novak Djokovic, another self-confessed idol of Mensik.

The pair have only faced off once before with Djokovic winning but Mensik said he is competing to win, not just take part.

“I am a completely different player from that match,” he said of their 2024 Shanghai match. “I remember being very nervous when I stepped onto the court because I wasn’t mentally mature.

“I don’t doubt I will feel nerves on Sunday, but I believe I will handle them much better. Back then, I went out to enjoy the experience, but now I am here to win.

“I believe one of my greatest virtues is how I handle pressure moments in matches. I can stay calm, focused, and play my best tennis. That’s why I’m winning so many tiebreaks this year.

“Now I understand how the circuit works, I have confidence in my abilities, and I feel that I am becoming a better tennis player every day,”

More news from the Miami Open

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For Djokovic, it is a chance at history as he could become the oldest Masters 1000 winner in history but also record his 100th ATP title win.

The Serb admitted that since he won his 99th, the Olympic Games in 2024, he has been dreaming of the next victory.

“Ever since I won my 99th [title], which was the Olympic Games in Paris, I’ve been playing with the prospect of winning the special 100 titles,” said Djokovic.

“I’ve been trying to find that necessary and much-needed level of tennis that will put me in a position to fight for a trophy, a big trophy.

“That’s what I’ve been doing this week, to be honest. I’ve been very happy with the way I prepared for the tournament, the way I’ve been playing. I haven’t dropped a set.

“It’s a great opportunity. Let’s see what happens.”

Djokovic also received a visit from Messi, admitting he was nervous to see the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner in the crowd.

“It’s a great honour to have King Leo in the stands. I think it’s the first time I’ve played in front of Messi, and honestly, I was a little nervous,” said Djokovic.

“I am very grateful for his attendance with his family. I have always been a fan of him, as most of the world has, throughout his career.”

Read next: How Sinner outscored Zverev, Alcaraz, Djokovic in Race To Turin despite playing only one tournament

The post How Lionel Messi powered Jakub Mensik to Miami Open final appeared first on Tennis365.

The Miami Open men’s singles championship promises to be a fascinating inter-generational battle.

Novak Djokovic, 38, will take on 19-year-old Jakub Mensik in Sunday’s final at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament.

World No 1 Jannik Sinner is the reigning Miami Open champion, but he was unable to defend his crown due to his doping ban.

ATP Rankings Top 10 (March 17, 2025)

1. Jannik Sinner, Italy – 11,330
2. Alexander Zverev, Germany – 7,945
3. Carlos Alcaraz, Spain – 6,910
4. Taylor Fritz, United States – 4,900
5. Novak Djokovic, Serbia – 3,860
6. Casper Ruud, Norway – 3,855
7. Jack Draper, Great Britain – 3,800
8. Daniil Medvedev – 3,680
9. Andrey Rublev – 3,440
10. Stefanos Tsitsipas, Greece – 3,405

The Italian is, therefore, set to drop the 1,000 points he earned for winning the tournament in 2024, which presented Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz — who are ranked second and third respectively — with an opportunity to close the gap at the top.

Alcaraz was unable to cash in as he crashed out in the second round — a loss that will see him lose 190 points after he made the quarter-finals last year.

Zverev did not take advantage either as his fourth round exit means he will drop 300 points after being a semi-finalist at the 2024 Miami Open.

World No 4 Taylor Fritz fared much better by reaching the semi-finals — a result that will increase his points tally by 390.

Djokovic will remain in fifth position irrespective of the outcome of the final, but his run has already seen him close the gap to Fritz and put distance between himself and the chasing pack.

ATP Live Rankings Top 10 (as of March 29, 2025)

1. Jannik Sinner, Italy – 10,330
2. Alexander Zverev, Germany – 7,645
3. Carlos Alcaraz, Spain – 6,720
4. Taylor Fritz, United States – 5,290
5. Novak Djokovic, Serbia – 4,510 (4,860)
6. Casper Ruud, Norway – 3,855
7. Jack Draper, Great Britain – 3,780
8. Stefanos Tsitsipas, Greece – 3,445 (+2)
9. Andrey Rublev – 3,440
10. Alex de Minaur, Australia – 3,335 (+1)

Stefanos Tsitsipas has jumped from 10th to eighth in the Live ATP Rankings despite losing in the third round.

Daniil Medvedev’s defeat in his opening match will see him drop from eighth to 11th, allowing Alex de Minaur to return to the top 10.

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The Winners

Among the top 10, Sinner, Fritz, Djokovic, Tsitsipas and de Minaur are all winners from Miami from a rankings perspective.

Arthur Fils’ run to the quarter-finals in Miami, which mirrored his result in Indian Wells, has seen him climb to a projected new career-high of world No 15 in the Live Rankings.

Jakub Mensik has surged 24 places from 54th to 30th for reaching his maiden Masters 1000 final, and he could climb as high as 24th if he secures the title.

Elsewhere, Matteo Berrettini and Gael Monfils have each jumped four spots to 26th and 42nd respectively after strong showings.

Jacob Fearnley is set for a 10-place move to a new career-high of 73rd.

The Losers

Zverev and Alcaraz’s failure to capitalise on Sinner’s absence at a 1000 tournament with a fairly open draw dealt a significant blow to their world No 1 hopes in the short to medium term.

Daniil Medvedev’s exit from the top 10 for the first time since February 2023 is indicative of his struggles so far this season.

Grigor Dimitrov, a Miami Open runner-up in 2024, is set to slip from 18th to 15th despite reaching the last four this year.

Nicolas Jarry has fallen from 57th to 47th as his difficult run continued, while Marton Fucsovics has dropped from 59th to 80th.

READ NEXT: Novak Djokovic’s biggest weapon in Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal GOAT battle is revealed

The post ATP Rankings Winners & Losers Miami Open: Novak Djokovic boost, Jakub Mensik +24, Daniil Medvedev drops appeared first on Tennis365.

Jakub Mensik joined an exclusive club occupied by tennis legends after earning a thrilling win over Taylor Fritz to reach the 2025 Miami Open final.

The rising Czech star defeated world No 4 Fritz 7-6(4), 4-6, 7-6(4) in a pulsating two-hour-and-24-minute semi-final at the Hard Rock Stadium.

In a serve-dominated contest, Fritz secured the only break of the match in the second set while Mensik won the first and third set tiebreaks that proved pivotal.

Mensik landed 72% of his first serves and blasted 25 aces as he won 82% of points behind his first delivery and 54% on his second serve.

The 19-year-old, who is seeking his maiden title, is through to his second career final and first at ATP Masters 1000 level.

Having started the Miami Open as the world No 54, Mensik has soared 24 places to 30th in the Live ATP Rankings with the 640 points he has earned.

Mensik is just the fifth teenager in the last 20 years to reach the Miami Open men’s singles final — and he could not be in better company on the list.

Since 2005, Rafael Nadal (2005), Novak Djokovic (2007), Jannik Sinner (2021) and Carlos Alcaraz (2022) are the only other men to feature in a Miami title match before turning 20.

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The Czech has also become only the fourth teenager to register multiple wins over opponents ranked in the ATP top 10 at Masters 1000 events since the format was introduced in 1990. Nadal, Alcaraz and Holger Rune were the other ATP stars to accomplish the feat.

Mensik will face 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic, who he has named as his biggest idol, in the Miami Open final.

Djokovic is seeking his seventh Miami crown, a record-extending 41st Masters 1000 title and his 100th ATP Tour singles title overall.

Mensik was beaten by Djokovic in three sets in the quarter-finals at the 2024 Shanghai Masters in the pair’s only previous showdown.

On facing Djokovic for second time, Mensik said: “I’m actually a different player (compared to the match in Shanghai).

“I was kind of nervous. I’m not saying that I would not be on Sunday. I was not able to hold my nerves very well in the match. I’ve just grown up a little mentally.

“Playing right now, I feel that the conditions and everything here suits me very well. I feel really comfortable on the court. So, I’m going there on Sunday to win. No doubt on that.”

The age gap of 18 years and 102 days between 19-year-old Mensik and 38-year-old Djokovic will be the biggest-ever in a Masters 1000 final.

READ NEXT: Novak Djokovic makes ominous comments after he storms into Miami Open final

The post Jakub Mensik emulates Nadal, Djokovic, Sinner and Alcaraz with prodigious Miami Open feat appeared first on Tennis365.

Jessica Pegula banished her Miami Open demons with a gutsy semi-final win over tournament breakout star Alex Eala on Thursday.

After previous semi-final defeats in 2022 and 2023, and a quarter-final loss twelve months ago, a 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-3 victory over teen sensation Eala powered the American into a first final at the tournament.

It is a third final of 2025 for Pegula, and the US star will lift her eighth career title – and fourth WTA 1000 title – should she beat world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka on Saturday.

However, it is not just the title at stake for Pegula.

The 31-year-old has been handed a golden opportunity to replace Coco Gauff as the US No 1.

Points surge

The US has an incredibly strong presence towards the top of the WTA Tour, with Gauff, Pegula, and Madison Keys ranked world No 3, No 4, and No 5, respectively.

Gauff and Pegula have been established figures inside the top 10 for numerous seasons now, with Keys surging to a new career-high of world No 5 after a stunning Australian Open triumph in January.

Heading into the Miami Open, Gauff held 6,063 ranking points, with world No 4 Pegula on 5,361 points and Keys just behind on 5,004 points.

However, things have fallen into place perfectly for Pegula in Miami.

The world No 4 has, for now, moved up to 5,796 points in the WTA Live Rankings, earning an extra 435 ranking points after bettering last year’s quarter-final exit with her run to the final this fortnight.

That has helped increase her lead over world No 5 Keys significantly, with the Australian Open champion falling to 4,949 points after a shock round-three exit to Eala; she had reached round four in 2024.

And, Pegula now has Gauff’s world No 3 – and US No 1 – ranking in her sights.

Gauff fell in the fourth round of the Miami Open for the second straight year, meaning she stays on 6,063 points, having dropped 270 points in Indian Wells a fortnight ago.

Pegula has closed the gap significantly over the past month and, if she were to win Saturday’s final, would move above her compatriot in the rankings.

Victory over Sabalenka would mean Pegula holds 6,146 ranking points come Monday – moving back to her career-high of world No 3, and knocking Gauff back down to No 4.

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Pegula’s challenge

The equation for Pegula is a simple one, but beating Sabalenka is not going to be a straightforward task.

World No 1 Sabalenka has now won more matches than anyone else on the WTA Tour this year and is already in a fourth final of 2025.

Though she was beaten in both the Australian Open and Indian Wells finals, she was the Brisbane International champion back in January, and is perhaps the favourite to lift a first Miami Open title.

That is part due to her form and position as the world No 1, though Sabalenka also has a strong head-to-head record against Pegula.

The Belarusian leads their head-to-head 6-2, and has won their last two meetings.

Those matches were a 6-3, 7-5 victory in the Cincinnati Open final last August, and then a 7-5, 7-5 win in an enthralling US Open final just weeks later.

Both those contests were close matches, but Sabalenka appears to have another level compared to most of the WTA field when it comes to hard-court tennis, and it will be tricky for Pegula to counteract that.

Should Pegula win the final, she could then also lose the US No 1 ranking after just one week.

There would be just 83 points between her and Gauff in the rankings, while she has 195 semi-final points to defend next week at the Charleston Open.

Read Next: WTA Rankings Winners & Losers Miami Open: Raducanu top 50, Eala +65, Sabalenka hits new milestone

The post Jessica Pegula handed huge rankings chance ahead of Aryna Sabalenka Miami Open showdown appeared first on Tennis365.

Novak Djokovic’s use of large blue gloves at the change of ends during his match against Sebastian Korda sparked a big talking point among tennis fans and now the story behind his latest innovation has been revealed.

With temperatures soaring at the Miami Open, Grigor Dimitrov and Emma Raducanu are among the star names who have been struggling to control their body temperatures.

Djokovic also had a dip in his physical levels after he got off to a flying start in his quarter-final match against Korda and that is when he turned to his gloves.

Made by Newgo, the cooling gloves are a cut-price option to regulate your temperature, with the description of a product that costs around £20 or $25 highlighing the benefits.

“This hand ice packs measure 25.5×20.5cm, designed to provide cold therapy for your entire hands, finger and wrist,” it reads.

“Adjustable straps with velcro help to fix the ice gloves in place for hands-free application. With a wide opening, you can easily put on & take off the gloves even swollen hands.

“Specially designed to provide targeted pain relief for hands, finger, wrist, this reusable ice gloves actively relieve inflammation, carpal tunnel, hand injuries, finger pain, arthritis and tendonitis, can also speed up hands surgery recovery. Great for chemotherapy patients and those with neuropathy.

“The outer layer of ice pack gloves is made of leak-proof knitted fabric, comfortable for direct skin touch, can also keep coldness in so you can enjoy the cold therapy for longer time, without worring about any leakage or tear. Filled with 30% more soft gel, this ice mittens stay flexible even after frozen, mould easily around your hands and ensure a tight fit without any restriction.

“These ice gloves can be used for hot and cold therapy according to your needs. Simply put the hand ice packs in the storage bag provided and cool them in the freezer for 2-4 hours for cold therapy. Or heating the hand ice pack in a microwave oven for 30 seconds for hot therapy.”

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova applauded Djokovic for finding an alternative way to control his body temperature, as she spoke to Sky Sports Tennis.

“They’ve had this years ago, it can lower your body temperature in like 30 seconds,” said Navratilova. “It cools down the blood supply. I don’t know why more people haven’t been using them.

“Novak is ahead of everybody when it comes to technology. It’s magic and I don’t know why tournaments don’t have them for all the players.”

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The move certainly seemed to help Djokovic, as he eased into his first Miami Open semi-final since 2016, as he eyes up a 100th career title.

“I am very relieved I won in straight sets,” Djokovic told Sky Sports. “I was quite nervous to be honest, because you never know what comes from Korda.

“He’s so aggressive, so talented and can play any shot. I was on the back foot and it was a tense match.

“It was the best serving performance for me so far. I was quite nervous because you never know what comes from Korda – he’s so aggressive and talented.

“I was on my back foot, waiting for his error rather than dictating from the back of the court. When I needed a first serve I got it but a tense match and great performance.”

READ NEXT: Novak Djokovic breaks another Roger Federer record as he storms into Miami Open semi-finals

The post Why was Novak Djokovic wearing gloves in his latest Miami Open match? appeared first on Tennis365.

The stage is set for a blockbuster Miami Open women’s singles final.

Top seed Aryna Sabalenka and fourth seed Jessica Pegula will meet on Saturday, with two of the WTA’s best hard-court players battling for the WTA 1000 title.

However, while the champion is yet to be crowned, there is already plenty to digest from the tournament, particularly from a rankings perspective.

WTA Rankings (w/c March 17, 2025)

1) Aryna Sabalenka, 9,606
2) Iga Swiatek, 7,375
3) Coco Gauff, 6,063
4) Jessica Pegula, 5,361
5) Madison Keys, 5,004
6) Mirra Andreeva, 4,710
7) Jasmine Paolini, 4,158
8) Elena Rybakina, 4,448
9) Zheng Qinwen, 3,985
10) Emma Navarro, 3,859

No matter what happened in Miami, world No 1 Sabalenka was guaranteed to stay atop the WTA Rankings.

The key question was whether she could extend her lead or if world No 2 Swiatek would close the gap in her bid to return to the top.

Behind Sabalenka and Swiatek, an interesting US battle between Gauff, Pegula, and Keys was set, with potential movements possible in the fight to be American No 1.

Further down the top 10, plenty of movement was possible – particularly with world No 8 Rybakina defending finalist points.

WTA Live Rankings (as of March 28, 2025)

1) Aryna Sabalenka, 10,191
2) Iga Swiatek, 7,470
3) Coco Gauff, 6,063
4) Jessica Pegula, 5,796
5) Madison Keys, 4,949
6) Jasmine Paolini, 4,843
7) Mirra Andreeva, 4,775
8) Zheng Qinwen, 4,135
9) Paula Badosa, 3,821
10) Elena Rybakina, 3,808

With Sabalenka in the final and Swiatek falling in the last eight, the Belarusian’s lead will grow significantly.

The Belarusian is guaranteed to hold over 10,000 ranking points for the first time in her career – and will hold 10,541 points should she beat Pegula in Saturday’s final.

Pegula’s run to a first Miami Open final has grown her points lead over world No 5 Keys, and the 31-year-old will move to 6,146 points – overtaking Gauff – if she wins the title.

Meanwhile, Paolini’s run to the last four has seen her move back ahead of Andreeva and up to world No 10, while a run to the fourth round sees Badosa back up to No 9 despite her injury issues.

However, there’s potentially bad news for Rybakina, who is set to fall to world No 10 on Monday.

Big Winners

Perhaps the biggest winner towards the top is Sabalenka, who now holds an even more commanding lead as the world No 1.

With world No 2 Swiatek defending a huge chunk of points this clay season, the Belarusian looks set for an extended stay as the world’s best player.

However, no woman will make a bigger leap than surprise semi-finalist Alex Eala.

The Filipina’s stunning run to the semi-final – which saw her beat both Keys and Swiatek – will see her break into the top 100 come Monday.

Currently ranked 140th in the world, Eala is projected to rise 65 places to a new high of world No 75 on Monday, and become the first woman from the Philippines to reach the top 100.

There is also good news for Emma Raducanu after an encouraging – and much-needed – run to the quarter-final in Miami.

By reaching her first WTA 1000 quarter-final, world No 60 Raducanu is projected to leap 12 places to world No 48, and be ranked inside the top 50 for the first time since 2022.

Elina Svitolina is projected to jump four places to world No 18, while compatriot Marta Kostyuk will move back up five places to world No 24.

US stars Ashlyn Krueger and McCartney Kessler are both projected to reach new career-high rankings – world No 34 and No 42, respectively – while there’s also good news for Naomi Osaka.

The Japanese is set to return to the top 60 and move up five spots to world No 56.

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Big Losers

Having reached the final the past two years, a second-round exit to Krueger sees Rybakina drop 640 spots and two places.

With the Kazakh set to skip her WTA 500 title defence in Stuttgart in April, a fall from the top-10 looks inevitable.

Also slipping down the rankings post-Miami is Danielle Collins, who fell in the fourth round of her title defence to Sabalenka.

The US star is set to be ranked outside the top 20 on Monday, slipping seven places to world No 22.

2024 semi-finalist Ekaterina Alexandrova will fall six places to world No 26 after her second-round exit, while there’s even worse news for Victoria Azarenka.

Also a semi-finalist in 2024, the former world No 1’s retirement in the second round means she is projected to drop 15 places to world No 47.

After falling out of the top 50 post-Indian Wells, Maria Sakkari will now be outside the top 60 and fall 12 spots to world No 63 after a third-round exit.

Meanwhile, with a projected fall of 27 places to world No 101, Caroline Garcia will be ranked outside the top 100 for the first time since 2013.

Read Next: Why Emma Raducanu was a big winner despite her Miami Open defeat

The post WTA Rankings Winners & Losers Miami Open: Raducanu top 50, Eala +65, Sabalenka hits new milestone appeared first on Tennis365.

Teenage sensation Alex Eala’s fairytale run at the 2025 Miami Open is over, and she will leave the tournament with huge boosts to her ranking and earnings.

Eala pushed world No 4 Jessica Pegula hard in the semi-finals at the WTA 1000 event before ultimately falling 6-7(3), 7-5, 3-6 after two hours and 26 minutes.

The 140th-ranked wildcard made history by becoming the first player from the Philippines to reach the last four of a tour-level event.

The 19-year-old defeated three Grand Slam champions during her run at the Hard Rock Stadium: Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys and Iga Swiatek.

Her stunning 6-2, 7-5 quarter-final win over Swiatek, a five-time major winner and the current world No 2, was a seismic upset.

Eala earned all four of her victories in Miami in straight sets, while she also received a last 16 walkover from Paula Badosa, who was forced to withdraw due to injury.

Following her loss to Pegula, Eala told reporters: “Of course, I’m disappointed.

“But there’s so many times in tennis where you have to dig out the dirt to look for the positive and now I’m enjoying it because there’s so much positive around me and I don’t know how many times that has happened, so I’m just lucky to have been able to experience these two weeks.

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“The match I played was amazing and she played amazing. I definitely had my chances and I definitely have things that I could’ve done better, but I literally gave everything I had — as you see I’m taped up like a mummy.”

Eala added: “I think I’m going to reset and build my body back up so that my next tournament I can go all out full and can give everything I have again. It’s not easy because if it was, everybody would be doing it.”

By reaching the semi-finals in Miami, Eala has collected 370 ranking points, which has seen her soar 65 places in the live WTA Rankings from 140th to 75th.

The Filipino’s previous career-high ranking was world No 134, and she will become the first player in her nation’s history to break into the top 100 of the women’s or men’s rankings next week.

Eala’s run at the WTA 1000 tournament has earned her $332,160 in prize money, with her total career earnings prior to the tournament standing at $498,901.

READ NEXT: The 5 lowest-ranked women to beat Iga Swiatek in a WTA match: ft. Alex Eala

The post Alex Eala: Points and prize money from her fairytale Miami Open run revealed appeared first on Tennis365.

It’s not often that a tennis player leaves the court as a winner after a disappointing three-set defeat, but that was the story for Emma Raducanu at the Miami Open.

Roll the clock back to the start of March and Raducanu’s mind was not focused on runs to the latter stages of WTA 1000 tournaments for so many reasons.

In fact, she was not even thinking about playing tennis in America and competing in the ‘Sunshine Double’ that includes events in Indian Wells and Miami.

After a challenging start to the season on and off the court that included a run of defeats that impacted her confidence, questions were being asked about Raducanu’s ability to compete at the top of the women’s game.

That was before the incident in Dubai where she was approached by a man who was described as displaying ‘fixated behaviour’, leaving her shaken and pondering what would come next in her career.

The 2021 US Open champion admitted she considered pulling out of the WTA 1000 tournament at Indian Wells as she looked to recover from the shock of that incident, with some suggesting she may ever be considering taking a break from the game.

Her first round exit at Indian Wells highlighted her lack of preparation for that tournament, but Raducanu refocused for the Miami Open and the results were so impressive.

Wins against Emma Navarro, Mccartney Kessler and Amanda Anisimova highlighted a thrilling resurgence in Raducanu’s game, but her performance against world No 4 Jessica Pegula took her story in Miami to the next level.

Pegula was in brilliant form as she stormed to the first set, with Raducanu doing well to get three games against an opponent who was solid from the back of the court and clinical when she moved forward.

Raducanu could have been expected to slip away in the match after she conceded that first set, but she stormed back with a sensational burst of games in the second set and should have won it before finally sealing the deal on the tie-break.

The decider was also evenly balanced, as Raducanu fought to the end despite feeling unwell and calling for medical assistance, with her 6-4, 6-7[3] 6-2 defeat only telling part of this story.

Raducanu’s performance against Pegula was the display of a player who belongs in the top 10 of the WTA Rankings, as she went toe-to-toe with last year’s US Open finalist and pushed her all the way before finally accepting defeat.

“It was tough. I played a good first set, a little let down in the second, got it back, went up 2-0 in the tiebreak, but it kind of flipped,” said Pegula.

“She started moving the ball really well, serving good… sometimes it just happens, but I just wanted to come out in the third really strong, really quick, and just kind of jump on her and not keep the third set too close.”

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The improvements on Raducanu’s serve were noticeable all week and that may be down to the presence of Mark Petchey on her coaching team once again.

Raducanu’s Miami Open started with the shock exit of coach Vladimir Platenik after just one game working with the Brit, but it opened the door for Petchey to step in from his role as a Tennis Channel broadcaster to revise his coaching career.

This appears to be a temporary coaching move, but it clearly had a big impact as Raducanu’s service motion was dramatically enhanced and the double fault issue that has haunted her for some time was also erased.

Her power hitting from the back of the court was back in glorious fashion and her return of serve, especially when attacking her opponent’s second serve, was overwhelming for her rivals.

Raducanu’s reward for her efforts in Miami was prize money of $189,075 and a return to the top 50 of the WTA Rankings when they are updated on Monday.

Of much more value will be her reboot of confidence after her best run of results since the US Open win three and a half years ago.

The revamped version of Raducanu we saw in Miami is a player who can compete at the highest level of the women’s game and a month that started with doubts over her future in the sport is ending with revived hopes that she could be back in the top 10 of the WTA Ranking back the end of this year.

READ NEXT: Emma Raducanu ‘takes a risk’ every time she goes on court says Patrick Mouratoglou

The post Why Emma Raducanu was a big winner despite her Miami Open defeat appeared first on Tennis365.

Patrick Mouratoglou believes the true greats of tennis will always have the perfect mix of technical brilliance and an unshakable mental strength that gets them over the line when the pressure is at its peak.

The former coach to tennis legend Serena Williams is uniquely placed to assess the importance of mental strength in tennis, as he played a role in helping the 23-time Grand Slam champion realise all of her potential.

Williams boasted an unshakable confidence and a depth of belief that carried her over the winning line when some of her opponents may have doubted themselves and now Mouratoglou has suggested the most talented players in the world will not claim glory unless they control the mental battle they will endure on court.

In an exclusive interview with Tennis365 ahead of the release of his new book Champion Mindset takes a deep dive into the mentality of life on and off the court, Mouratoglou suggested the battle of the mind is what separates top players from the greats.

“A champion is always the complete package and that is the game and the mind,” Mouratoglou told Tennis365. 

“You cannot separate one from the other and that is why it is so important to understand players mentally because you can do or say something that can put some doubts in their mind if you don’t say it at the right moment. 

“If you touch on the technique of a player, you will also touch on the mental side of their game, for sure. It is the same with the physical and the tactical. You can bring stress that can create doubts.

“Tennis players are very fragile machines. They are not robots, as that would be too simple. If it was just about executing a shot and a plan, then they would be robots, but it’s more than that. The emotional side of tennis is so big and plays a massive role.”

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Mouratoglou has seen great players lose belief when it matters most, with controlling emotions on court so important for a player to realise his full potential.

He highlights Britain’s Emma Raducanu as an example of a player who goes onto court with more than just the burden of her own expectations to contend with, as criticism and the threat of it can also impact a match.

“Most players are confident as they have the ability to play good tennis when they reach the top of the sport, but so many of them don’t believe in themselves when they play certain opponents,” he continues.

“When they lose a few matches, they lose belief to beat others and when you are in the locker room, you can see how some of them are scared before matches and it’s crazy.

“But there is so much on the line every time they play a match because first of all, they are evaluating themselves.

“Then they have the press evaluating them and when you are in a big country like Britain and there is a lot of publicity around tennis, a player like Emma Raducanu takes the risk that people will write or say bad things about you every time you go on court. That is not easy to deal with.

“Players are stressed and they need a lot of confidence to deal with that stress or they will not be able to deliver.”

A tennis coach needs to be a psychologist and a master of the technical and tactical side of the game and having lived through a challenging childhood he battled self-esteem and emotional issues on a daily basis, Mouratoglou is perfectly placed to offer his players a unique set of skills.

READ NEXT: Patrick Mouratoglou admits he was ‘losing every day’ and was ‘deeply depressed’ in emotional Tennis365 interview

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Alex Eala pulled off one of the biggest shocks in tennis history with an astonishing 6-2, 7-5 win over world No 2 Iga Swiatek on Wednesday.

The world No 140’s win over the five-time Grand Slam champion has sent shockwaves across the tennis world – and has seen Eala make a fair chunk of history.

First Filipina woman to reach a WTA semi-final

Tennis is becoming increasingly a global sport, and Eala’s success is a testament to that.

The 19-year-old is not only the first woman from the Philippines to reach a WTA 1000 final, but she is also the first to reach a semi-final at any WTA event.

She was already the highest-ranked Filipina in the history of the WTA Rankings, having reached a career high of world No 134 back in January 2025.

Reaching SF as a wildcard

Thanks to her connection with IMG – the event owners – Eala received a wildcard into the main draw, having also received wildcards in 2022 and 2023.

However, in the 40 years since the Miami Open was first held in 1985, the teenager is just the third wildcard to reach the last four of the women’s singles event.

And, the previous women to do just that are both world No 1’s and multiple-time Grand Slam winners.

The first wildcard to reach the last four was seven-time major champion Justine Henin, who – like Eala – beat the second seed (Caroline Wozniacki) in the quarter-finals in 2010.

Eight years later, two-time Australian Open champion – and three-time Miami winner – Victoria Azarenka also reached the last four as a wildcard after beating Karolina Pliskova in the last eight.

Both Henin and Azarenka would ultimately lose their semi-finals, meaning Eala could become the first wildcard to reach the final.

Reaching first SF in Miami

Before Miami, Eala had only two WTA main draw victories to her name.

Now, she finds herself in a first WTA semi-final at one of the biggest events in the calendar, and has become only the third woman to reach her first tour semi-final at the Miami Open.

In 1988, a 16-year-old Mary Joe Fernandez reached her first semi-final in Miami, the 15th seed having stunned third seed Gabriela Sabatini in the fourth round.

Three decades later, qualifier – and future Miami Open champion – Danielle Collins reached her first tour semi-final at the event, shocking Venus Williams in the last eight.

Both Collins and Fernandez were beaten in their semi-finals but, encouragingly for Eala, would later reach Grand Slam finals.

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Second-youngest left-handed semi-finalist

Eala has the fairly unique advantage of being a ‘lefty’, something that could cause issues against some players in the future.

And, in the four decades of the Miami Open, only one left-handed woman has reached the semi-final of the event at a younger age than the Filipina.

That player happened to be Monica Seles, undisputedly one of the all-time greats of the sport.

Seles reached back-to-back semi-finals as a 16 and 17-year-old in 1990 and 1991, and would go on to lift the title in both years.

Top 100 breakthrough

Eala had already made rankings history for her nation, with no other women from the Philippines having cracked even the top 200 of the WTA Rankings.

However, the 19-year-old is now guaranteed to become the first Filipina to reach the world’s top 100 thanks to her Miami Open run.

Eala was just outside the top 100 of the live rankings, but having beaten Swiatek, she has moved up to world No 75 – a staggering leap of 65 places.

She would move inside the top 60 if she reached the final, and inside the top 40 should she lift the title.

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