Emma Raducanu wins Madrid Open opener, eyes ranking boost

Emma Raducanu began her clay-court season with a hard-fought win over Suzan Lamens in the opening round of the 2025 Madrid Open, marking her first outdoor clay victory since 2022. Raducanu battled back from a break down in both sets to secure a 7-6(4), 6-4 victory, demonstrating resilience under pressure and improved mental fortitude. This win, following a period of training and relaxation with her part-time coach Mark Petchey, has boosted her WTA ranking and provided a confidence lift as she adapts to clay surfaces. After a challenging period marked by injuries and coaching changes, Raducanu emphasized her new mindset focused on balancing competition with off-court relaxation to better manage scrutiny and expectations. With few ranking points to defend during the clay season, Raducanu has a strong opportunity to further improve her ranking and potentially reclaim the British No 1 spot. Her next match in Madrid will be against Marta Kostyuk, whom she previously defeated at the same event.