Emma Raducanu may not face a top-seeded player in her Madrid Open opener, but she’ll still have her hands full against an opponent enjoying a strong run of form on clay.
The British star, making her return to competitive action after skipping both the Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers and the WTA 250 event in Rouen, has drawn Dutch player Suzan Lamens in the first round of the prestigious WTA 1000 event.
Lamens enters the match with momentum, having played—and won—two matches for the Netherlands in the BJK Cup qualifiers. She followed that up with a semifinal run in Rouen, collecting five clay-court wins over the past two weeks alone.
While Raducanu is still considered the favorite on paper, the match presents a potential early test given Lamens’ match sharpness and clay-court readiness. This will be their first career meeting.
Raducanu Encouraged to Prioritize Clay
Raducanu played only twice on clay last year and missed the French Open entirely, but former British No. 1 Laura Robson recently emphasized how important this portion of the season could be for the 2021 US Open champion.
“I’m sure Emma would like to do well on clay and grass this year and play a full schedule,” Robson said during a Sky Sports event. “Clay is great for developing all areas of the game. Tactically, it’s a great surface to learn how to turn matches around in slower conditions.”
She added: “Clay conditions change so much depending on the weather and the tournament location. Madrid is always very different from Rome, and one may suit Emma better than the other.”
Raducanu is set to make her third appearance at the Madrid Open. She reached the round of 16 in 2022 but suffered a first-round exit last year. With a favorable draw and an opportunity to gain confidence on clay, this year’s event could mark a turning point in her 2025 season.
