On a cold evening at the Foro Italico, Emma Raducanu, despite battling a cold, fought her way into the second round of the Italian Open with a hard-fought victory over Australian qualifier Maya Joint.
The match ended 7-5, 6-7, 6-3, but Raducanu’s journey to victory was anything but smooth.
A Tough Start in the Cold
Raducanu, at 22, was visibly struggling with a cold, coughing and sneezing throughout the match.
Yet, even with frequent nose blows and sniffles, she showcased her attacking tennis skills.
The match itself was a tough battle, especially in the first two sets.
Raducanu appeared to be in control, but Joint, the scrappy 19-year-old, refused to back down.
When Raducanu failed to serve out the match and Joint powered through the second-set tiebreak, it seemed like Raducanu might unravel.
But instead, she dug deep, coming back strong in the final set.
The Turning Point and Final Push
After a brief break off the court — perhaps to grab a quick remedy — Raducanu returned with renewed energy.
She found her rhythm, playing her best tennis of the match.
Every winner was met with a defiant “C’mon!” shouted into the chilly night air.
She built a commanding 5-0 lead, though Joint managed to narrow the gap to 5-3.
Ultimately, Raducanu closed out the match after 2 hours and 44 minutes, securing her place in the next round.
An Empty Stadium and a Challenging Atmosphere
The match was played in an unusual stadium located a bit of a distance from the main courts, making it harder for fans to reach.
The chilly evening and late start time, at 8 p.m., also contributed to the lack of spectators.
The intimate setting only added to the odd feeling of the match, but Raducanu stayed focused despite the sparse crowd.
Raducanu’s Attitude Towards Clay Courts
Before the tournament, Raducanu spoke candidly about her experience on clay courts.
As someone ranked outside the top 50, she knew the top players were more aggressive, and she wanted to use her time on the clay to be more assertive with her game.
“I want to work on trying to impose my game,” she had said, and she certainly put those words into practice during this match.
Resilience Through the Setbacks
The first set had its rocky moments, especially when Raducanu found herself down 4-2 after a poor game.
But she quickly recovered, showing resilience. The second set was a close battle, but Joint took control in the tiebreak.
Raducanu made an important toilet break during the break, but Joint, perhaps too cold, stayed out on court without a jacket.
The situation seemed to affect her performance when play resumed.
Reflections After the Match
Raducanu acknowledged the challenge presented by her opponent.
“Maya played so aggressively,” she said. “Every time I dropped the ball slightly short, she was all over it.”
Raducanu also shared that the day had been difficult, with a rain delay that left her with little time to warm up mentally.
“It’s hard getting psyched up in the locker room when you’ve been on a day off until 6 p.m.,” she explained, highlighting how the waiting and delays affected her mood.
Looking Ahead to the Next Round
Next, Raducanu will face Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova in a rematch.
Raducanu won their first encounter at the Australian Open but lost to Alexandrova in Doha.
As she looks to continue her progress in the tournament, Raducanu’s positive attitude and fighting spirit will be key.
British Hopes Hang in the Balance
Earlier in the day, Katie Boulter’s loss to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova raised concerns about her status as British No. 1.
With Raducanu and Sonay Kartal advancing to the second round, either of them could take the top spot if they perform well here or at the French Open.
Boulter’s struggles on the clay this season continue, as this defeat marked her third loss in five matches on the surface.
Norrie’s Success and a Glimmer of Hope for British Tennis
In other news from the Italian Open, Cam Norrie became the first British male to secure a win at the tournament, beating Australia’s Chris O’Connell 6-3, 6-2.
Norrie, who entered the tournament as a lucky loser after losing in the final round of qualifying, showed resilience and determination, giving British tennis fans hope for success in the men’s draw as well.
Emma Raducanu’s journey continues, and despite the challenges, her determination to improve on clay and find her form is clear.