Emma Raducanu Defeats Maya Joint at Italian Open 2025

Emma Raducanu advanced to the second round of the 2025 Italian Open after a hard-fought three-set victory over Australia's Maya Joint, showcasing both aggression and resilience on the clay. Despite losing her grip while serving for the match in the second set and dropping the subsequent tiebreak, Raducanu rebounded strongly in the decider by quickly building a commanding lead and holding off a late challenge. The win marks Raducanu's first main-draw victory in Rome, where she had previously retired in her 2022 debut. Her progress comes amid ongoing adjustments to clay surfaces and with a temporary coaching setup, as she seeks consistency and confidence after a challenging season start. Raducanu will next face 21st seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, whom she has split previous meetings with this year. The match further highlights Joint's rapid rise in the rankings, though she ultimately fell short against the more experienced Brit.