Emma Raducanu secures straight-sets victory at Madrid Open

Emma Raducanu marked her return to the WTA Tour with a straight-sets victory over Suzan Lamens in the first round of the Madrid Open, following a nearly month-long break after reaching the Miami Open quarter-finals. Raducanu used the time off for a focused training block and emphasized the importance of balancing intense practice with adequate rest to maintain her performance throughout the long season. She highlighted that her new approach—maximizing effort on court and switching off afterward—has helped her avoid burnout and technical overload. The Briton is working informally with coach Mark Petchey and is set to face Marta Kostyuk in the next round. Raducanu expressed pride in her ability to compete under pressure, stating that while the match wasn't her best, she managed to prevail at crucial moments. Her win in Madrid is seen as a promising start to the clay-court swing leading up to the French Open.