Emma Raducanu has admitted she doesn’t feel entirely comfortable on clay, but that could change if she finds form over the next month.
The 22-year-old returns to action at the Madrid Open after taking time off following her impressive run to the Miami Open quarter-finals — her best performance since winning the 2021 US Open.
The 22-year-old returns to action at the Madrid Open after taking time off following her impressive run to the Miami Open quarter-finals — her best performance since winning the 2021 US Open.
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00:00Emma Raducanu has admitted she doesn't feel entirely comfortable on clay, but that could change if she finds form over the next month.
00:11The 22-year-old returns to action at the Madrid Open after taking some time off following her impressive run to the Miami Open quarterfinals, her best performance since winning the 2021 US Open.
00:23She enters Madrid with no points to defend and plenty to gain, and he only played six matches on clay last year.
00:33Raducanu beat Mario Lourdes-Kale in Billie Jean King Cup action and won twice in Stuttgart, but did not play any further at clay events in 2024, choosing instead to focus on the grass court season.
00:45This year offers a big opportunity with up to 4,000 ranking points available across Madrid, Rome and Roland Garros.
00:53A few wins in each event could propel Raducanu toward the top 40 and possibly reclaim the British No. 1 spot from Katie Bolter.
01:02A quarterfinal in Madrid or Rome could even see her break into the top 32 and earn a seeding at the French Open.
01:09Her first opponent in Madrid is World No. 69, Susan Larmans, and should she win, Raducanu will meet Maritakoskiak with a potential third-round match against Paula Balosta.
01:22Laura Robson has backed Raducanu to thrive on clay, noting the surface could bring out the best in her powerful ground strokes.
01:29I play back-to-back, especially in non-grand slams, and so it's more about keeping in physical shape for the long matches that I might have in the singles and just conserving as much energy and keeping my body in one piece as much as possible.
01:46Raducanu continues to work informally with coach Mark Petchy, alongside mentor Jane O'Donoghue.
01:52That relaxed set-up worked well in Miami and will remain in place for the time being.
01:57While clay remains unfamiliar territory, Raducanu has the power, mentality and momentum to make it a breakthrough surface.
02:06If she strings wings together this spring, she could rewrite expectations ahead of the grass-caught swing and beyond.