Portugal Colonial - Raducanu savours winning feeling after troubled months

The 21-year-old, who became an instant sensation when she won the US Open in 2021, has had plenty of ups and downs in her career since but in a marathon two-hour 53-minute contest she answered any doubts about her grit with a 7–6 (8/6), 2–6, 7–6 (7-3) win.

"Today I completely left everything on the court. I think there were moments in the third set I thought I was completely down, completely out. I didn't see a way back from it, to be honest, physically," she said.

"But then I managed to, I don't know where, find a source of energy from and I think I was running on adrenaline.

"She got so many balls back. I mean, I had to win every single point out there. She didn't really give me anything. I'm really proud of how I fought," she added.

Raducanu is now down at 60th in the world after spells of injury and disappointing results but she said the feeling compared, in some ways, to her US Open victory.

"It was a lot of emotions when I won. I know I won the US Open, but I think having been through so much in the last few years, it's like the wins now mean so much more," she said.

"Not necessarily more in terms of magnitude, but I would say emotionally, just a lot more aware of all of the suffering as well, because, you know, when I won the US Open, I just won 10 matches in straight sets. I didn't have, like, the losses, the downs, the months of, like, losing streaks.

"I think to come out of it now, it does, yeah, I'd say it means a lot more than certain matches at the US Open, yeah," she said.

- Expectations -

At times she has appeared to struggle with the high expectations that her maiden Grand Slam title brought while there have been a series of short-lived coaching changes.

Her life took a more sinister turn in February when she was targeted by a stalker in Dubai.

The man was escorted away by security, subsequently given a restraining order and banned from attending WTA Tour events.

Indian Wells was her first tournament back after that ordeal and she went out in the first round to Japan's Moyuka Uchijima.

"I don't think it's been an easy couple of months. I have had a lot going on -- on and off the court," she said.

"I think my goal is to just get to a place where I feel a lot more set and stable with my surroundings. This week I have amazing people who have known me for a very long time. I feel very secure and happy and wanting to fight for them, as well," she said.

"It's a really nice feeling. It has been quite emotional, and, you know, it's taken a lot out of me. But I'm just so happy to be, like, fighting here, and all the wins here just give me extra fuel, extra energy."

In her Miami opener she beat another Japanese player in wildcard Sayaka Ishii and after battling her way past Navarro she will be up against American McCartney Kessler on Sunday.

V.Fontes--PC