Emma Raducanu advanced to the second round of the Italian Open after battling past Australia’s Maya Joint in a tense three-set contest, winning 7-5, 6-7 (1), 6-3. The match marked Raducanu’s first win at the tournament, having retired during her only previous appearance in 2022. Under the cool night skies of Rome, the British player endured the heavy conditions and a determined opponent to come through in over two and a half hours of play.
Despite falling behind early in the first set, Raducanu found her rhythm in key moments and broke Joint’s serve to edge the opener 7-5. In the second set, she appeared to take control, surging to a 5-3 lead. However, nerves crept in as she attempted to serve out the match at 5-4, and her teenage opponent capitalised with aggressive shot-making, particularly down the line with her backhand. Joint went on to dominate the tie-break, forcing a deciding set.
Taking a bathroom break before the final set, Raducanu returned composed and energised. She quickly asserted her presence on the baseline and dictated play, denying Joint any further momentum. Her aggressive court positioning and consistent execution allowed her to regain full control and wrap up the third set 6-3.
Up next for Raducanu is a familiar challenge in Ekaterina Alexandrova, the 21st seed, whom she has faced twice already this season.
Meanwhile, Naomi Osaka continued her resurgence on clay with a confident 6-2, 6-3 win over Italy’s Sara Errani. The victory extended her winning streak on clay to six matches the longest of her career on the surface. This success follows her title run last week at the WTA 125 event in St Malo, where she made a rare appearance at a lower-tier tournament to gain much-needed match play and experience on clay.
Osaka’s choice to enter St Malo was a strategic shift after a disappointing early exit at the Madrid Open. After struggling emotionally following her loss there, she reflected on her approach to the sport and decided to reset. Her focus in recent weeks has been on rebuilding confidence, staying grounded, and embracing the challenge of playing lower-profile events without concern for status or prestige.
She shared that communication with her coach Patrick Mouratoglou has been vital during this time, particularly in helping her express her nerves and mental state before matches. By doing so, she’s found a renewed sense of calm and perspective, reminding herself to appreciate simply being able to compete and stay healthy.
Also progressing to the second round in Rome was Cameron Norrie, who took full advantage of his entry as a lucky loser. After falling in the final qualifying round, he replaced an injured player in the main draw and made the most of the opportunity with a commanding 6-3, 6-2 win over Australia’s Christopher O’Connell. The former top-10 player is currently ranked No 91 and is seeking to rebuild his form after a difficult spell on tour.
However, it was disappointment for Britain’s Katie Boulter, who continues to struggle on clay. She was beaten 6-3, 6-3 by the experienced Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, a former French Open finalist. Boulter, known for her success on faster surfaces, found it difficult to impose her game in the slower conditions.
