Emma Raducanu admitted she felt uncomfortable on clay after her Madrid Open defeat to 24th seed Marta Kostyuk. Despite a strong second set, Raducanu struggled to maintain momentum, ultimately losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 in the second round.
The 22-year-old highlighted her lack of experience on clay, calling it “pretty noticeable” during post-match comments. Raducanu, currently ranked 49th, emphasized her need for more match time and training on outdoor clay courts to improve her movement and comfort.
After battling through the first set, double faults cost Raducanu critical points. Although she rallied impressively in the second set, her inability to slide effectively allowed Kostyuk to regain control in the decisive third set.
This tournament marked Raducanu’s return from a brief physical and mental break. She now looks ahead to the Italian Open, seeking to build clay-court confidence before the French Open, while continuing her informal partnership with coach Mark Petchey.
