Emma Raducanu, Britain’s former US Open champion, is charging into the second round of the 2025 Mutua Madrid Open with momentum and grit, setting the stage for a highly anticipated clash against Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk. The 22-year-old Raducanu, who has been steadily rebuilding her form after a challenging period marked by injuries, secured her place in the second round with a hard-fought 7-6(4), 6-4 victory over Dutch player Suzan Lamens on April 23, 2025. Now, she faces a familiar foe in Kostyuk, the No. 22 seed, reigniting a rivalry that has its roots in their junior days and promises to deliver a compelling battle on the clay courts of the Caja Mágica.
Raducanu’s opening-round win was a testament to her resilience. Facing Lamens, ranked No. 73, she navigated a seesaw first set that swung with breaks of serve, ultimately clinching it in a tiebreak by winning four consecutive points from a 2-3 deficit. The second set saw Lamens take an early 2-0 lead, but Raducanu’s composure shone through as she broke back twice to seal the match. “I know I had to play really well to win and although it wasn’t always my best, I got stuck in at the right moments,” Raducanu said, reflecting on her performance. “I’m proud of how I competed. It is a strength of mine when I can use it.” Her victory marked her first win at the Madrid Open since 2022, a significant milestone as she continues her comeback trail following a quarterfinal run at the Miami Open in March 2025.
The upcoming match against Kostyuk, scheduled for the Arantxa Sánchez Stadium, is steeped in history. The two players, both born in 2002, share a competitive past that stretches back to their junior days, where Kostyuk was often the favored player. Their professional head-to-head stands at 1-1, with each claiming a decisive victory. In 2021, at the Transylvania Open in Cluj-Napoca, Kostyuk dominated a then-ailing Raducanu 6-2, 6-1. Raducanu flipped the script in their 2022 Madrid Open encounter, delivering a commanding 6-2, 6-1 win of her own. “All throughout juniors she was always the favorite when we played,” Raducanu recalled ahead of their 2022 clash. “She was considered much better. Yeah, it’s a funny one. When we played last year she played very good, but also I wasn’t very well that day. So it’ll be an interesting match-up.”
Kostyuk, now ranked No. 19, brings her own blend of firepower and tenacity to the court. Known for her aggressive baseline play and flair for highlight-reel shots, she advanced to the second round after a strong first-round performance. Her clay-court record is impressive, with a 72-38 win-loss tally over the past decade, including a fourth-round appearance at Roland Garros in 2021. However, her 2025 season has been uneven, with a 10-9 record and a recent first-round loss on clay. Despite this, Kostyuk’s ability to produce dazzling winners, as seen in her 6-3, 6-2 rout of Clara Tauson in Madrid 2022, makes her a formidable opponent. “I have to always be ready for whatever,” Kostyuk said in 2022, anticipating their Madrid matchup. “She’s very explosive. She hits very hard.”
Raducanu’s journey to this point has been one of perseverance. After undergoing double wrist surgery in 2023, she has climbed back into the world’s top 50, currently sitting at No. 47 following her Madrid win. Her decision to skip smaller clay events in favor of a training block ahead of the WTA 1000 tournament appears to be paying off, with her movement and tactical adaptability on clay improving markedly. Guided informally by Andy Murray’s former coach Mark Petchey and long-time mentor Jane O’Donoghue, Raducanu showcased her versatility against Lamens, mixing powerful forehands with deft drop shots and a clutch serving performance, including a crucial ace to secure match point.
The Madrid Open holds special significance for Raducanu, who made her professional clay debut here in 2022. Her 2022 victory over Kostyuk was a highlight, marked by pristine ball-striking and a near-flawless serving display, with 77% first serves in and no break points faced. However, last year’s first-round exit to María Lourdes Carlé underscored the challenges of the surface, making her 2025 resurgence all the more compelling. A win over Kostyuk could propel her toward a third-round matchup with Paula Badosa or Veronika Kudermetova, with a potential quarterfinal against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka looming.
Social media is abuzz with anticipation for the Raducanu-Kostyuk clash, with fans recalling their 2022 Madrid encounter and speculating on the outcome. “Emma Raducanu just breezed into Round 2 at the Madrid Open — smooth like a clean forehand winner!” one X post enthused, while another noted the historical blowouts in their rivalry, predicting a tighter contest this time. The matchup promises a clash of styles—Raducanu’s controlled aggression and improving clay-court nous against Kostyuk’s swashbuckling shot-making. As both players vie to assert dominance in this generational rivalry, the Caja Mágica is set to witness a battle that could shape their 2025 clay seasons.