In a sun-drenched display of grit and finesse, Emma Raducanu kicked off her clay-court season with a commanding straight-sets victory over Suzan Lamens at the Madrid Open on April 23, 2025. The 22-year-old British star, returning to the WTA Tour after a month-long hiatus, battled through a challenging match to secure a 7-6(4), 6-4 win at the Arantxa Sanchez Vicario Stadium, banishing the ghosts of her first-round exit in the same tournament a year earlier. With her trademark resilience and a renewed mindset, Raducanu set the stage for an exciting clay campaign, earning her first outdoor clay win since 2022 and a second-round clash with Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk.
Raducanu’s journey to Madrid was anything but conventional. After a stellar run to the Miami Open quarter-finals in March—her best WTA 1000 performance since her 2021 US Open triumph—she opted for a 10-day training block in Los Angeles instead of competing in smaller clay events or the Billie Jean King Cup. The decision, which she described as a “less is more” approach, allowed her to reset physically and mentally. “I’ve realised now that less is more for me sometimes,” Raducanu shared, reflecting on her intense work ethic. “I work really hard and can definitely be partial to overkilling it sometimes.” Accompanied by her informal coach Mark Petchey, a familiar face from her teenage years and Andy Murray’s former mentor, Raducanu arrived in the Spanish capital relaxed yet focused, even indulging in a playful football rondo with Petchey before her match.
The opening set against Lamens, ranked world No. 73, was a rollercoaster. Lamens, fresh off a semi-final run in Rouen and a victory over British No. 1 Katie Boulter in the Billie Jean King Cup, unleashed powerful forehands that tested Raducanu’s resolve. Both players traded breaks in a tightly contested set, with Raducanu trailing 6-5 before Lamens’ aggressive play forced a tiebreak. Down 3-2, Raducanu found her rhythm, reeling off four consecutive points to clinch the tiebreak 7-4. “I needed to fight and pull through some really difficult moments,” she said post-match, acknowledging the challenge of facing an in-form opponent. “When your opponent is hitting great shots, it’s easy to get frustrated, but I had to reset and accept that she’s good, /
here for a reason and playing amazing tennis.”
The second set saw Lamens strike early, breaking for a 2-0 lead as she threatened a comeback. But Raducanu’s mental toughness shone through. A pivotal moment came at 3-3 in a six-deuce game on Lamens’ serve, where Raducanu saved seven game points and converted her first break point with a searing forehand winner. “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 noted, crediting her competitive spirit. She broke again to lead 5-4 and sealed the match with a powerful serve, prompting Lamens to go long on the return. The victory, clocking in at one hour and 58 minutes, showcased Raducanu’s ability to adapt to Madrid’s fast clay conditions, amplified by the city’s high altitude.
Raducanu’s performance was not without its flashes of brilliance. A running forehand down the line and a thunderous winner in the second set highlighted her offensive capabilities, while her 62% break-point save rate (five of eight) underscored her defensive tenacity. “I’m pleased with how I just got on with it and didn’t try to make too many excuses or complain too much,” she told reporters, emphasizing her growth on a surface where she feels less comfortable. The win marked a significant milestone, erasing the memory of her 6-2, 6-2 loss to Maria Carle in Madrid the previous year, which she had described as mentally and emotionally exhausting.
Looking ahead, Raducanu faces a familiar foe in Kostyuk, the No. 24 seed, whom she defeated 6-2, 6-1 in Madrid in 2022. Their head-to-head is tied at 1-1, with Kostyuk winning their first encounter in 2021. Despite Kostyuk’s inconsistent 2025 season and a recent injury withdrawal from Stuttgart, her nine career top-10 wins make her a formidable opponent. Raducanu, now ranked No. 47 after her Miami exploits, has a chance to climb higher and potentially overtake Boulter as British No. 1 with a deep run. A potential quarter-final against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka looms, adding intrigue to her campaign.
As Raducanu continues her clay journey, her relaxed demeanor and strategic breaks signal a maturing approach to the grueling demands of professional tennis. “I think I can enjoy myself and have fun,” she said, a stark contrast to her earlier intensity. With Petchey’s guidance and a supportive team, including long-time mentor Jane O’Donoghue, Raducanu is poised to build on this victory, proving that her talent, when paired with resilience, can shine on any surface.