Former world No. 2 Alex Corretja has advised Emma Raducanu to temper her expectations for the 2025 French Open, suggesting she should aim for “quite moderate” goals due to her limited match play on clay. Speaking as a TNT Sports pundit, as reported by Tennis365.com on May 22, 2025, Corretja acknowledged Raducanu’s talent, stating, “She can play very well, she can move very well – so there’s no reason why she can’t play well on clay.” However, he emphasized that her lack of competitive matches could hinder her performance at Roland Garros, starting May 25, 2025.
Raducanu, ranked No. 43, is returning to the French Open after missing the 2023 and 2024 tournaments due to wrist and ankle surgeries and a strategic focus on grass courts, respectively. Her 2025 clay season showed promise, with a fourth-round run at the Italian Open—where she won three consecutive clay matches for the first time, defeating Veronika Kudermetova 5-7, 6-0, 6-1—before losing to Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-2. She also reached the second round in Strasbourg, defeating Daria Kasatkina 6-1, 6-3, but fell to Danielle Collins 4-6, 6-1, 6-3, hampered by a recurring back injury.[]
Corretja’s caution stems from Raducanu’s unseeded status, which led to a tough draw against Wang Xinyu in the first round and potentially Iga Swiatek in the second. Despite her 2021 US Open title, her clay-court experience remains limited, with only a second-round appearance at Roland Garros in 2022. Corretja noted her aggressive style and movement suit clay, but her recent back issues and sparse match play—exacerbated by a medical timeout in Strasbourg—could limit her. Fans on X echoed mixed sentiments, with @tennis365com quoting Corretja’s optimism about her potential, while @TimesSport highlighted concerns over her injury.
Raducanu, working informally with coach Mark Petchey, remains optimistic, telling BBC Sport, “I’m beginning to like clay more and more.” Yet, Corretja’s advice underscores the need for realistic goals as she navigates fitness challenges and a brutal draw.
