Emma Raducanu visited by doctor in Jessica Pegula loss as Brit ‘dizzy and faint’ | Tennis | Sport

Emma Raducanu was visited by a doctor on court during her Miami Open defeat to Jessica Pegula after complaining of feeling ‘dizzy and faint’. The 22-year-old required medical attention at the chair beside the court in Florida and looked visibly unwell as the testing conditions in the Sunshine State took its toll. The issue appeared to affect her during the match as she saw her impressive run in Miami ended by the American, who triumphed 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-2.

Raducanu admitted she struggled to cope with the humid conditions, with temperatures rising to around 27C: “I just felt really dizzy. I felt faint. I don’t know,” Raducanu said after her defeat. “It was very humid out there and we have a long wait, so maybe just an accumulation [of things], and just physical points as well and there were long rallies and heavy conditions. I don’t know how I kind of regrouped in that second set, but in the third I definitely struggled a little bit.”

The British star had her vitals checked as part of the procedure, with her blood pressure taken as medics tried to bring down her temperature. Raducanu had two ice towels, as well as ice put on her legs and back, to help her cool down and eventually play resumed.

At the time of the stoppage, she had led 5-2 in the second set and looked on course to force a deciding set against the home favourite before giving up two consecutive games. But after a brief delay, Raducanu rediscovered her rhythm and won the tiebreak 7-3.

However, she appeared to have been sapped of her energy and Pegula, who looked much sharper, took charge of the deciding set before easing into the semi-finals.

The defeat brings an end to the 2021 US Open winner’s run in the USA, where she had savoured her best tournament in Miami of her career. Having previously only reached the second round in Florida, the world No. 60 should climb the WTA rankings after reaching the last eight.

She had beaten American players in the previous four rounds, receiving a walkover when leading McCartney Kessler by a set and brushing aside Amanda Anisimova 6-1, 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals.

But Pegula’s class showed as the fourth seed secured her spot in the semis. There, she will face giant-killer Alexandra Eala, who stunned Iga Swiatek in straight sets to set up an enticing clash against the 31-year-old.