As the 2025 French Open dawns on the red clay of Roland Garros, Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, is approaching the tournament with a fresh perspective and a revamped preparation routine that marks a significant departure from her usual approach. The 22-year-old Brit, ranked No. 43 in the world, has embraced a new strategy to tackle the challenges of clay, a surface where she’s historically struggled, while battling a recurring back injury that threatens her campaign. Her candid revelations about her unique preparations and resilient mindset have sparked optimism among fans as she gears up to face China’s Wang Xinyu in the first round, with a potential blockbuster clash against four-time champion Iga Świątek looming.
Raducanu’s 2025 clay season has been her most robust yet, with eight matches played—more than her combined total from 2023 and 2024. This deliberate choice to immerse herself in the surface reflects a newfound commitment to mastering its demands. “I think I’m happy to have put some more time in on the clay this year,” she said, reflecting on her regret for not competing more on clay in previous seasons. Her standout achievement was reaching the fourth round of the Italian Open, a career-first string of three consecutive clay-court wins, before falling to Coco Gauff. In Strasbourg, she delivered a commanding 6-1, 6-3 upset over former world No. 8 Daria Kasatkina, her first top-20 win on clay, showcasing her growing comfort on the surface. “As I spend more time on clay, I’m starting to like it more and more. I’m building my relationship with the surface,” she noted, highlighting her evolving affinity.
What sets Raducanu’s 2025 preparation apart is her innovative training regimen, particularly her incorporation of running into her routine. A recent social media post from Paris, captioned with a running emoji alongside her physical trainer Chelsea Olivia Annalls, revealed this addition. This shift aims to boost her endurance for the grueling rallies and physical demands of clay, which she acknowledges exacerbate her back issues due to longer points and higher bounces. To address a persistent back spasm that flared during her Strasbourg loss to Danielle Collins, Raducanu has also overcome a personal hurdle: her fear of needles. “It feels OK, it feels good, not 100% yet, but we’re working towards that,” she told reporters, crediting dry needling and heat therapy for helping manage the injury. This willingness to embrace medical interventions marks a significant step in prioritizing her physical resilience, especially after a similar issue forced her withdrawal from the ASB Classic before the Australian Open.
Raducanu’s mental approach has also evolved. Working with coach Mark Petchey on an informal basis, alongside longtime ally Jane O’Donoghue, she’s adopted a “less is more” philosophy for 2025, focusing on sustainable progress. “I would love to just keep improving, keep playing. I don’t want to go and hide in a hole somewhere,” she said after her Rome defeat, emphasizing her desire to stay competitive despite setbacks. Her positive mindset was evident in Rome, where she credited her enjoyment for her strong showing, even in a 6-1, 6-2 loss to Gauff. This mental shift, paired with her eight wins in 11 matches under Petchey’s guidance, has propelled her back into the top 50, a remarkable recovery from her No. 221 ranking last year after wrist and ankle surgeries.
Her French Open draw is daunting. Facing Wang Xinyu, ranked one spot above her at No. 42, Raducanu recalls their only prior meeting—a 2021 loss in Linz. A win could pit her against Świątek, who, despite a dip in form with four losses in her last 10 matches, remains a clay-court titan. Raducanu’s movement on clay, still a work in progress, will be tested, but her recent strides suggest she’s better equipped than ever. “I just kept pushing through because people were telling me I wasn’t tough enough,” she reflected, underscoring her newfound resolve to listen to her body over external pressures.
As Raducanu steps onto Court Suzanne-Lenglen, her focus is on consolidating her clay-court progress and pushing past her previous French Open best—a second-round exit in 2022. With a favorable draw beyond Świątek, including potential matchups against Marta Kostyuk or Elena Rybakina, she has a chance to make a deep run. Her preparation, blending physical innovation, medical courage, and mental fortitude, positions her as a wildcard to watch in Paris, ready to prove she’s more than her 2021 US Open triumph.
# Emma Raducanu’s Reinvented Approach for the 2025 French Open
As the 2025 French Open begins, Emma Raducanu is embracing a transformed preparation routine to conquer the clay courts of Roland Garros. The 22-year-old Brit, ranked No. 43, faces China’s Wang Xinyu in the first round, with a potential clash against Iga Świątek looming, but her revamped approach signals a player ready to rewrite her clay-court story.
Raducanu’s 2025 clay season has been her most active, with eight matches played—surpassing her 2023 and 2024 totals combined. “I think I’m happy to have put some more time in on the clay this year,” she said, regretting her limited clay exposure in prior years. Her fourth-round run at the Italian Open, a career-best three straight clay wins, and a 6-1, 6-3 thrashing of Daria Kasatkina in Strasbourg highlight her progress. “As I spend more time on clay, I’m starting to like it more and more,” she added, embracing the surface.
Her preparation stands out with a new focus on running, shared via a social media post with trainer Chelsea Olivia Annalls, to enhance endurance for clay’s demands. Battling a back spasm from Strasbourg, she’s tackled her needle phobia, using dry needling and heat therapy. “It feels OK, it feels good, not 100% yet, but we’re working towards that,” she noted. Her “less is more” mindset, guided by coach Mark Petchey, has fueled eight wins in 11 matches, pushing her back into the top 50.
Facing Wang Xinyu, then possibly Świątek, Raducanu’s improved movement and resilience will be tested. “I would love to just keep improving, keep playing. I don’t want to go and hide in a hole somewhere,” she said, reflecting her resolve. With a favorable draw beyond the second round, Raducanu’s innovative preparation could spark a breakthrough in Paris.
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