Emma Raducanu admitted that playing on clay courts remains a challenge for her after a second-round defeat to Marta Kostyuk at the Madrid Open.
The 24th-seeded Kostyuk triumphed 6-4, 2-6, 6-2, advancing to the next round while Raducanu, who is currently ranked 49th, struggled to find her rhythm on the surface. Despite putting up a fight, particularly in the second set, Raducanu was unable to secure her first major clay-court win of the season.
“I think it’s positive to have played two matches on outdoor clay courts,” Raducanu said post-match. “But I’ve definitely noticed that I don’t feel very comfortable on clay. It’s something I’ll need to work on and improve.”
Raducanu is in the midst of her second proper clay season and the first one in three years. She acknowledged the need to give herself time to adjust.
“I’m just trying to get as many points as I can on the clay and spend more time training on it,” she added. “It’s a learning process.”
The Struggles on Clay
The Brit began her match with Kostyuk competitively, holding her own early as the first set was tied at 3-3. However, after a pair of double faults, Raducanu dropped her serve, which helped Kostyuk build momentum. Raducanu’s struggles with movement were evident as Kostyuk took control of the match.
“I found it really difficult to move,” Raducanu reflected. “I felt like I was slipping around, and it took me a while to recover from the corners and after the serve.”
Raducanu showed improvements in the second set, winning four consecutive games to level the match. But the deciding third set saw her ability to slide into shots hampered, and she was unable to maintain that momentum.
The Road Ahead for Raducanu
This defeat marked Raducanu’s first tournament since taking a break after reaching the quarter-finals at the Miami Open in March. Her win over Suzan Lamens in the first round of the Madrid Open was her first outdoor clay victory in almost three years, offering some hope as she looks to improve her clay-court game.
Despite the setbacks, Raducanu remains determined. “I’m not sure how to improve on the movement yet, but I’ll take it back and work on it in the next week,” she said.
This marks another chapter in Raducanu’s tumultuous career following her surprise US Open win in 2021, which has been marred by injuries, coaching changes, and off-court challenges. She continues to work with coach Mark Petchey on an informal basis, with whom she previously collaborated in 2020 at the National Tennis Centre in London.
Raducanu will have further opportunities to fine-tune her clay-court skills at the Italian Open, the final WTA 1000 event before the prestigious French Open.
