The red clay of the Caja Mágica buzzed with anticipation as Emma Raducanu, Britain’s 2021 US Open champion, launched her 2025 clay-court campaign with a gritty victory at the Madrid Open on April 23. The 22-year-old, ranked world No. 47, overcame a stern test from Dutch rising star Suzan Lamens, clinching a 7-6(4), 6-4 win in a match that showcased her resilience and rediscovered flair. Now, Raducanu sets her sights on a second-round clash with Ukraine’s No. 24 seed Marta Kostyuk, reigniting a generational rivalry that promises fireworks at this WTA 1000 event.
Raducanu’s return to Madrid marks a pivotal moment in her 2025 season, which has been a blend of promise and setbacks. After a standout quarterfinal run at the Miami Open in March, where she fell to world No. 4 Jessica Pegula in three sets, she opted for an extended training block, skipping the Billie Jean King Cup and a clay event in Rouen to hone her game. Her preparation paid off against Lamens, a world No. 69 who arrived in form after a semifinal showing in Rouen and a Japan Women’s Open title in 2024. “It was a tricky first set,” Raducanu reflected post-match, echoing her 2022 sentiments about adjusting to Madrid’s unique conditions. “It’s always tough playing on a brand new court, and it took me time to adjust to my surroundings.”
The match was a tale of tenacity. Lamens, wielding a potent forehand, broke Raducanu early in both sets, capitalizing on the Brit’s initial struggles with the high-altitude clay, which quickens the ball. In the first set, Raducanu trailed 6-5, fending off three break points in a tense ninth game. Her clutch play forced a tiebreak, where Lamens surged to a 3-2 lead with blistering winners, only to falter with unforced errors. Raducanu seized the moment, closing out the tiebreak 7-4 with an emphatic forehand. “I’m just glad I stuck through the first set and relaxed in the second,” she said, her composure a nod to lessons learned from past collapses.
The second set saw Lamens strike first, breaking for a 2-0 lead, but her double fault and shaky serve handed Raducanu a lifeline. A pivotal six-deuce game at 3-3 defined the match, with Raducanu unleashing a forehand winner to earn a break point and converting when Lamens netted a backhand. From there, Raducanu surged, sealing the 6-4 set with an ace and a thunderous scream that echoed her Miami intensity. “It’s insane the support I’ve been getting here! Gracias a todos!” she exclaimed, soaking in the Madrid crowd’s fervor.
Her victory sets up a tantalizing rematch with Kostyuk, a fellow 22-year-old with whom she shares a 1-1 head-to-head. Their 2021 clash in Cluj-Napoca saw Kostyuk dominate 6-2, 6-1, exploiting Raducanu’s illness, but Raducanu flipped the script in Madrid 2022, cruising 6-2, 6-1 with pristine ball-striking. “All throughout juniors, she was always the favorite,” Raducanu recalled in 2022, anticipating their latest duel. “It’ll be an interesting match-up.” Kostyuk, fresh off a first-round bye, brings confidence from her 2024 Stuttgart final run and a 33-20 record over the past year, though Raducanu’s recent 64.71% win rate edges her out slightly.
Raducanu’s clay journey has been a work in progress. With only six clay matches in 2024, yielding two Billie Jean King Cup wins and a Stuttgart pair, her 2023 Madrid exit to Maria Carle stung. Yet, her 2022 Madrid third-round run, bolstered by a 4-2 clay record, hints at her potential. “First clay court season, nothing to lose,” she said then, a mindset echoed now with just 10 points to defend across the clay swing. A deep run could propel her toward the top 30, especially with 4,000 points up for grabs in Madrid, Rome, and Roland Garros.
The draw ahead is daunting. A win over Kostyuk could pit Raducanu against No. 9 seed Paula Badosa or Veronika Kudermetova in the third round, with Qinwen Zheng or Sofia Kenin looming in the fourth. A quarterfinal against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka looms as a blockbuster possibility. Guided by “informal” coach Mark Petchey, Raducanu’s resurgence—marked by a career-high No. 10 in 2022 and a Miami top-50 return—signals her readiness to climb. As she navigates Madrid’s clay, her blend of grit, power, and newfound joy promises a thrilling chapter in her comeback saga.