In the scorching heat of Madrid’s Caja Mágica, Emma Raducanu’s clay-court campaign came to a grinding halt on April 25, 2025, as she fell to Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in a grueling second-round match at the Madrid Open. The 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 defeat, which marked the end of a promising return to the WTA Tour for the 22-year-old Briton, laid bare her ongoing struggles with the red dirt. With brutal honesty, Raducanu opened up about her discomfort on the surface, admitting that her movement felt like a liability. “I found moving really difficult,” she confessed post-match. “I felt like I was slipping around, but it was taking me a long time to get out of the corners and after the serve as well.” Her candid words resonated with fans, revealing the challenges of a former US Open champion still finding her footing on one of tennis’s most demanding surfaces.
Raducanu, ranked No. 49, entered the tournament with cautious optimism after a month-long hiatus following her quarterfinal run at the Miami Open. Her first-round victory over Dutchwoman Suzan Lamens, a 7-6(4), 6-4 battle, was her first outdoor clay win since 2022, a milestone that hinted at progress. “I know I had to play really well to win, and although it wasn’t always my best, I got stuck in at the right moments,” she said after that match, her competitive spirit evident. Facing Kostyuk, the 24th seed and a clay-court specialist who grew up honing her game on the surface, Raducanu knew she was in for a test. “She’s a player who has been in amazing form and grew up on this surface, so is very comfortable on the clay courts,” Raducanu noted before the match, acknowledging the “immense challenge” posed by her childhood rival.
The match itself was a rollercoaster, showcasing both Raducanu’s resilience and her vulnerabilities. Kostyuk struck first, breaking Raducanu’s serve in the opening game and capitalizing on two double faults to claim the first set 6-4. Raducanu fought back, leveling the score at 3-3, but her serve faltered at a critical moment, allowing Kostyuk to edge ahead. The second set saw Raducanu at her best, as she unleashed a barrage of aggressive groundstrokes to win four consecutive games and force a decider. “I don’t necessarily feel very comfortable,” Raducanu admitted afterward, reflecting on her second proper clay season in three years. Her discomfort was evident in the third set, where a poor opening game set the tone for Kostyuk’s dominant 6-2 finish, despite a wrist injury that required mid-match treatment.
Raducanu’s struggles with movement were the crux of her post-match analysis. “I’m not really sure how to improve that, so I guess I’ll just take that back and try to work on it in the next week,” she said, her frustration tempered by a determination to grow. Sliding and changing directions on clay, skills that come naturally to players like Kostyuk, remain a work in progress for Raducanu, who has played only 18 competitive clay matches in her career. The high-altitude conditions in Madrid, which make the ball fly faster, amplified her difficulties, as she struggled to adjust her footing after serves and in defensive rallies. Yet, she remained upbeat about the experience. “I think it’s positive to get through and play two matches on the outdoor clay courts,” she stated, emphasizing the value of court time as she builds toward the French Open.
The loss capped a disappointing day for British women at the Madrid Open, with Katie Boulter and Sonay Kartal also falling in straight sets to Jasmine Paolini and Elina Svitolina, respectively. Raducanu’s defeat, however, carried particular weight given her history with Kostyuk, a peer from their junior days. “I grew up playing with her. We played all of the summer cups, winter cups together,” Raducanu recalled, noting their shared history. Their 2022 Madrid clash saw Raducanu triumph 6-2, 6-1, but Kostyuk’s evolution into a top-30 stalwart tipped the scales this time.
As Raducanu looks ahead to the Italian Open and Roland Garros, her focus is on refining her clay-court game under the guidance of coach Mark Petchey, whose informal partnership has brought stability. “Hopefully,” she said when asked if Petchey would join her in Rome, a flicker of optimism in her voice. Social media buzzed with reactions, some fans praising her fight—“Emma’s a competitor, she’ll figure it out,” one X post read—while others worried about her clay-court ceiling. With her natural athleticism and powerful groundstrokes, Raducanu’s potential remains undeniable, but mastering clay’s unique demands will require patience and persistence. For now, the 2021 US Open champion is taking her Madrid lessons in stride, determined to turn her “uncomfortable” reality into a stepping stone for future success.