Madrid Open: Emma Raducanu beats Suzan Lamens in straight sets to reach second round
Emma Raducanu beats Suzan Lamens 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 in Madrid, will play Marta Kostyuk in round two; British No 2, who is working with coach Mark Petchey on informal basis, says mindset change helped earn first outdoor clay-court win since 2022; watch event live on Sky Sports
Wednesday 23 April 2025 21:04, UK
Emma Raducanu credited a change of mindset after beating Suzan Lamens in straight sets to advance to the second round of the Madrid Open.
The British No 2 won a hard-fought contest 7-6 (7-4) 6-4, recovering from falling a break down in each set as she secured her first victory on an outdoor clay court in close to three years.
Raducanu - who took a short break from competitive action in order to focus on training after reaching the quarter-finals of the Miami Open in March - cut a relaxed figure before her match in Madrid, kicking a football around with her "informal" coach Mark Petchey.
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The 22-year-old told Sky Sports after her win, which set up a clash with Marta Kostyuk in round two: "I think I have realised I don't need to be switched on 200 per cent of the day, which is what I am usually like.
"I don't need to suffer or be so down, be so focused. I think I can enjoy myself and have fun.
"It's nice to be relaxed and then when I go on the court I feel I am switched on. There is a time and a place for everything."
Raducanu: Win on clay 'means a lot'
The 2021 US Open champion has been without a permanent coach since parting ways with Nick Cavaday in January.
Petchey joined her team at the Miami Open - alongside long-time mentor Jane O'Donoghue - and is also with her in Spain this week.
Raducanu added of her victory over Lamens, who had been part of the Netherlands team that lost to Great Britain in the Billie Jean King Cup earlier this month: "To have won my first match on outdoor clay in years means a lot.
"I am working my way into it, I don't think I am the finished product by far but I am very happy I gave myself another opportunity to play and bank even more experience.
"It was a big mental challenge. [Lamens] has had a lot of wins on clay so I knew she was in form and I didn't necessarily feel that way before the match."
Kartal progresses but Jones knocked out
Sonay Kartal became the third British woman through to the second round, joining Raducanu and Katie Boulter, after beating Jaqueline Cristian 6-2 7-5 to set up a date with 17th seed Elina Svitolina.
However, Fran Jones was beaten in three sets by world no 46 Dayana Yastremska after a valiant effort, going down 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 6-3.
Plus, two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova remains winless since her WTA Tour return in February after giving birth, losing 6-4 6-0 to Katie Volynets for a fourth straight defeat.
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