Emma Raducanu expressed optimism and positivity as she looks forward to her campaign at the Italian Open, describing it as a `fresh start` under new direction.
The 22-year-old player returns to the clay courts aiming to recover from her second-round exit at the recent Madrid Open.
The former US Open champion is scheduled to play an unseeded qualifier in her initial match in Rome. Should she advance, she is set to face world No. 20 Ekaterina Alexandrova in the second round.
This will be Raducanu`s second career appearance at the Italian Open and her first since 2022, when she had to retire due to injury during her opening-round match against Bianca Andreescu of Canada.
“It feels new here [in Rome]; I wasn`t even sure where many things were located. I believe they`ve made significant upgrades since my last visit,” she commented. “It`s exciting; it really feels like a fresh start in terms of how I`m approaching everything, the team I have around me, and my overall mindset and perspective.”
“I feel more optimistic and quite positive about moving forward. I`m simply taking things one day at a time and focusing on consistency,” she added.
Raducanu`s Updated Training with Petchey
Raducanu continues her work with trainer Mark Petchey, stating that he is assisting her in transitioning away from a purely technique-focused training style.
“He isn`t primarily a technical coach. There are always certain minor adjustments, but that`s an area I`m moving away from,” she explained. “In the past, I focused heavily on technique, and there was a necessary time for that because I needed to make improvements.”
“However, from now on, the emphasis is more on doing the right things on court, being more aggressive with the ball, and repeating specific drills and patterns, which he is very skilled at setting up,” she continued.
She views this approach as a good challenge for her game. “I want to work on different strategies to help close the gap between my current level and where I aspire to be,” Raducanu said. “I plan to use this part of the season to reduce pressure on myself, try to be more aggressive, and play the style I prefer more consistently, which should benefit me on other surfaces as well.”
Boulter Aims for Continued Clay-Court Improvement
Katie Boulter is also in Rome, seeking further progress after achieving her first WTA clay-court victory at the Madrid Open before her second-round loss to Jasmine Paolini.
“It was a positive beginning to the clay season,” the British No. 1 stated. “It felt good to get that initial win, truly start playing matches, and fully immerse myself in the clay-court season.”
Boulter is still adapting to clay-court play, and she must also contend with the specific conditions in Rome as she prepares to face Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the first round.
“Playing in Rome is quite a different experience,” she mentioned. “The conditions can be challenging and difficult to navigate. The courts feel heavy, the balls are heavy, and it can be even heavier when playing at night.”
“Improving on clay largely involves physical conditioning and believing in my ability to win. Understanding that my game can be effective on clay is half the battle. I`ve made significant progress in this area since last year, when I felt uncertain, whereas this year I have a clearer idea of what I need to do out there,” Boulter added.
Boulter, who has risen into the world`s top 40 rankings, hopes her improved performances on clay will serve as ideal preparation for the upcoming grass-court season.
“The most important thing for me is maintaining a realistic sense of positivity,” she concluded. “I know my tennis skills and level are sufficient; otherwise, I wouldn`t have my current ranking. You have to manage your mindset and continue working diligently for the grass-court season. If I achieve something positive on clay, that`s the best outcome because physical improvements made on clay will make playing on grass even easier.”
