Emma Raducanu described the sudden change of opponent at the 2025 Italian Open as “pretty mental,” highlighting the mental and tactical challenges she faced in adapting quickly. Originally set to face 21st seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in the second round, Raducanu was informed just hours before the match that Alexandrova had withdrawn due to a right shoulder injury. Instead, she took on lucky loser Jil Teichmann, a left-handed player ranked No. 94, in a first-time career matchup. Despite the disruption, Raducanu delivered a commanding 6-2, 6-2 victory to advance to the third round, showcasing her ability to adjust under pressure.
In a post-match interview with Sky Sports Tennis, Raducanu detailed the whirlwind experience: “I was warming up for my match against Alexandrova, practicing with Mirra [Andreeva], and all of a sudden I get told I’m playing Jil, and on top of that she’s a lefty, so it’s a completely different challenge.” She noted the difficulty of facing a left-hander, a style she hadn’t encountered since playing Marketa Vondrousova in February 2025 in Abu Dhabi. “I honestly haven’t practiced much with a lefty,” she admitted, explaining that the initial games required adjustments to the unique ball spin and patterns. Despite this, Raducanu’s aggressive play shone through, with six aces and only one break point faced in the 82-minute match.
Raducanu’s preparation for Alexandrova, whom she had faced twice earlier in 2025 (splitting wins in Melbourne and Doha), was rendered obsolete, forcing her to recalibrate on the fly. She credited her resilience, saying, “I’m really proud of myself for how I fought through. Jil’s so good, especially on clay, her favorite surface.” Posts on X, such as @SkySportsTennis, echoed her pride in adapting to the “completely different challenge.” Her performance was bolstered by physical improvements, with Marion Bartoli noting on Sky Sports that Raducanu’s strengthened lower body enhanced her clay-court movement.
This victory, following her hard-fought first-round win over Maya Joint (7-5, 6-7(1), 6-3), marked Raducanu’s first third-round appearance at a WTA 1000 clay event. She next faced Veronika Kudermetova, with a potential clash against Coco Gauff looming, underscoring her growing confidence despite the “mental” curveball.
