Under the radiant Roman sky, Emma Raducanu delivered a performance of breathtaking precision at the Italian Open, dismantling lucky loser Jil Teichmann 6-2, 6-2 in a second-round rout that marked one of her most dominant victories of 2025. The Foro Italico’s clay courts, often a proving ground for the world’s best, bore witness to a revitalized Raducanu, whose blend of power and poise propelled her into the third round of the WTA 1000 event for the first time in her career. “It’s a completely different challenge,” Raducanu said, reflecting on the match’s unique circumstances, “but I’m really proud of how I came through.” Her words captured the resilience that defined her journey to this milestone, especially after a last-minute opponent switch tested her adaptability.
Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, was initially set to face world No. 20 Ekaterina Alexandrova, a familiar foe she’d split matches with earlier this season. But hours before the clash, Alexandrova withdrew, thrusting Teichmann—a Swiss left-hander ranked No. 94—into the spotlight. The sudden change forced Raducanu to pivot her strategy, a challenge she described as “mental.” Yet, the 22-year-old Briton embraced the moment, unleashing a barrage of winners that left Teichmann reeling. “I think the level was really high today,” Raducanu told reporters, a nod to her ability to elevate her game despite the curveball. Her performance was a masterclass: she faced just one break point, erased it with a searing ace, and closed the match with another, her fourth match point sealed in 68 minutes.
The match showcased Raducanu’s growing comfort on clay, a surface where she’s historically struggled. Her first set was a clinic, with 12 winners—including a string of “inside-in” forehands that sliced through Teichmann’s defenses—and only five unforced errors. She broke serve twice, exploiting Teichmann’s second serve with aggressive returns. The second set followed suit, though Teichmann briefly threatened a comeback, clawing to 4-3 before Raducanu’s relentless pressure forced a decisive break. “I did a good job closing it out,” she said, crediting her focus in crunch moments. Her movement, once a liability on the slippery red dirt, was fluid, her sprints to retrieve drop shots drawing gasps from the Campo Centrale crowd.
This victory builds on Raducanu’s gritty first-round win over Australian teenager Maya Joint, a 7-5, 6-7, 6-3 marathon that tested her endurance. That match, which stretched nearly three hours, saw Raducanu overcome a cold and a late-night finish, bolstered by mentor Jane O’Donoghue in the absence of her informal coach, Mark Petchey, who was commentating for Tennis Channel. “Petch, I think was on comms of my match, so I hope he was nice to me,” she quipped after the Joint win, her humor masking the logistical challenges of their ad-hoc coaching setup. Against Teichmann, O’Donoghue’s presence in the stands again proved vital, guiding Raducanu to a performance that moved her to No. 45 in the live WTA rankings.
Now, Raducanu faces Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova in the third round, a formidable opponent who reached the Madrid Open semifinals earlier this season. The matchup offers a chance to notch her first top-30 win on clay and edge closer to overtaking Katie Boulter as British No. 1, a goal within reach given Boulter’s first-round exit in Rome. Raducanu’s 2025 season, marked by a Miami Open quarterfinal and a third-round run at the Australian Open, has been a tale of resurgence after injury-plagued years. Her clay campaign, which began with a competitive Madrid Open loss to Marta Kostyuk, reflects a player adapting to the surface’s demands. “I don’t necessarily feel very comfortable,” she said in Madrid, but her Rome exploits—25 winners against Teichmann, 80% first-serve points won—suggest she’s finding her footing.
As the French Open approaches, Raducanu’s Rome run is a beacon of promise. Her aggressive style, honed through a training block after skipping Rouen, is paying dividends. “I’m just trying to let my creativity come out,” she said earlier, a philosophy evident in her pinpoint shot-making. With a career-high ranking of No. 10 in 2022 and a US Open title at 18, Raducanu’s potential is undeniable. Her Rome performance, backed by a supportive crowd and a newfound confidence, signals a player ready to reclaim her place among the elite. Whether she can sustain this form against Kudermetova and beyond, Raducanu’s Roman holiday is already a triumph, proving her resilience and flair on one of tennis’s grandest stages.
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