Emma Raducanu found herself in the spotlight for an amusing off-court moment at the 2025 Italian Open, earning the dubious honor of topping the “Sorry I’ve Lost My Credential 2025 Edition” board, a lighthearted tally of players who misplaced their accreditation badges. The British No. 2, ranked world No. 49, was named and shamed as the WTA player who most frequently requested badge reprints, outpacing Egypt’s Mayar Sherif and others. Raducanu embraced the embarrassment with characteristic wit, posing in front of the board for an Instagram Story and sharing a handwritten note that read, “Oops I did it again… I lost my badge, got a new one… was asked to only use the new one… I used the old one! I had to request a new badge. To be continued…” The note, referencing Britney Spears’ hit song, drew laughs from fans and media, with @DExpress_Sport on X noting, “Emma Raducanu wins embarrassing award as Brit dug out at Italian Open.”
On the court, Raducanu was far from embarrassed, securing her first-ever win in Rome against Australian qualifier Maya Joint in a grueling 7-5, 6-7(1), 6-3 first-round match. The victory, her first at the Italian Open in only her second appearance, showcased her resilience on clay, a surface she’s still mastering. “The level was really high,” she told Sky Sports, praising Joint’s aggression and expressing pride in her own commitment to attacking shots under tough nighttime conditions. Raducanu’s run continued with a 6-2, 6-2 rout of lucky loser Jil Teichmann in the second round, after 21st seed Ekaterina Alexandrova withdrew due to injury, marking her first third-round appearance at a WTA 1000 clay event.[]
The accreditation mishap added levity to Raducanu’s campaign, complementing her on-court progress. Her ability to laugh off the “award” while delivering strong performances—despite coach Mark Petchey’s absence due to Tennis Channel commitments—highlighted her growing confidence. Fans on X celebrated her humor, with posts like @TennisFan123 calling her “a gem on and off the court.” Raducanu’s next challenge was Veronika Kudermetova, with a potential Coco Gauff matchup looming, signaling her rising form.
