Emma Raducanu reaches Italian Open second round after win over Maya Joint

Emma Raducanu advanced to the second round of the Italian Open after a hard-fought three-set victory over 19-year-old Australian Maya Joint. Despite being close to a straight-sets win, Raducanu lost a tight second-set tiebreak but regained her composure to dominate the final set, ultimately winning 7-5, 6-7(1), 6-3. This marked her first main-draw victory in Rome, showing resilience and improved offensive play on clay, a surface she has been working to master. Although her coach Mark Petchey was absent due to broadcast work, mentor Jane O'Donoghue supported her courtside. Raducanu will next face Ekaterina Alexandrova, a familiar opponent, in the second round. Analysts note that while Raducanu's performance was promising, she will need to maintain her best level more consistently to progress further in the tournament.