Emma Raducanu, Britain`s number two tennis player, is set to kick off her Madrid Open tournament against Suzan Lamens of the Netherlands, who is currently ranked 69th in the world. A possible quarter-final showdown with Aryna Sabalenka could be on the horizon for Raducanu.
Raducanu has been preparing on clay courts in Madrid and is anticipating a challenging first match against Lamens. The 25-year-old Dutch player recently reached the semi-finals at the Open de Rouen, where she was defeated by Olga Danilovic.
The British tennis star had a promising run at the Miami Open last month, reaching the quarter-finals before losing to Jessica Pegula, who is ranked fourth globally.
Emma Raducanu`s Projected Madrid Draw
R1 – Suzan Lamens
R2 – Marta Kostyuk
R3 – Paula Badosa/Veronika Kudermetova
R4 – Qinwen Zheng/Sofia Kenin
QF – Aryna Sabalenka/Amanda Anisimova
SF – Jessica Pegula/Jasmine Paolini/Elena Rybakina/Ons Jabeur
F – Iga Swiatek/Coco Gauff/Mirra Andreeva/Madison Keys
Despite her defeat in Miami, Raducanu`s quarter-final appearance, which included a victory over top-10 player Emma Navarro, was her best tournament performance since her US Open win in 2021.
Currently ranked 47th in the world, Raducanu`s next competition is in Madrid. Marta Kostyuk could be her opponent in the second round, and if both players advance, world number one Aryna Sabalenka looms as a potential quarter-final opponent.
The 2021 US Open champion is currently in search of a new coach, having recently worked with Jane O`Donoghue and Mark Petchey in Miami.
Henman Highlights Importance of Physical Resilience
Tim Henman commented that Raducanu`s next coaching decision will be interesting as she transitions to the clay court season.
He noted her focus on enjoyment and authenticity, which allows her to express herself on the court, albeit in a unique way with frequent coaching changes. Henman emphasizes that building physical resilience is crucial for Raducanu, especially since her early career success, including the Grand Slam win, came without a solid physical base. He believes her increased consistency in competing this year is a positive sign, and better results should follow.
Is Clay a Good Surface for Raducanu?
Laura Robson believes Raducanu, at 22, has the potential to excel on clay this year. Last year, Raducanu had a limited clay court schedule, choosing to skip French Open qualifying to prepare for the grass season.
Robson states that clay is beneficial for overall game development, especially tactically, as it teaches players to recover in slower conditions. She also points out that clay court conditions vary greatly depending on weather and location, noting the differences between Madrid and Rome, and how certain conditions might favor Raducanu more than others.
Madrid Open Live on Sky Sports
British players Jack Draper, Raducanu, Katie Boulter, and Sonay Kartal are all competing at the Madrid Open. Novak Djokovic will also be playing, with Andy Murray as his coach.
The Madrid Open will feature top tennis players competing for ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 titles.
