Emma Raducanu navigated a challenging first-round match at the Italian Open, securing a victory over Australian teenager Maya Joint 7-5, 6-7 (1), 6-3. While Raducanu celebrated her win, her recently appointed coach, Mark Petchey, was absent due to prior commitments as a broadcaster.
Raducanu’s Grueling Victory in Rome
Raducanu’s match against Joint proved to be a demanding encounter, lasting two hours and 44 minutes. After a shaky start, Raducanu rallied to win the first set 7-5. The second set saw momentum swing, with Joint ultimately winning a dominant tiebreak 7-1 to force a decider. Raducanu surged ahead in the third set, taking a 5-0 lead before closing out the match 6-3.
“I think the level was really high today, Maya played so aggressively,” Raducanu told Sky Sports after the match. “I’m really proud of how I came through”. She also acknowledged the difficulty of the wait due to rain delays earlier in the day.
Petchey’s Absence and O’Donoghue’s Support
Mark Petchey’s absence from Raducanu’s box was noted, with mentor Jane O’Donoghue providing support instead. Petchey’s commentary work limits his ability to commit to a full-time coaching partnership with Raducanu. Raducanu has been working with Petchey on an “informal basis,” benefiting from his expertise when his schedule allows.
Raducanu has expressed satisfaction with the current arrangement, emphasizing the importance of having familiar and trusted individuals around her. “It’s been working pretty well,” Raducanu told BBC Sport ahead of the Italian Open. “Mark is doing his commentary work and around that he is going to help me as much as he can and hopefully the times align that he can be there with me in the matches”.
O’Donoghue’s presence offers additional support, but she will eventually return to her finance career, requiring Raducanu to find another solution to fill the gaps in her coaching team.
Raducanu’s Evolving Game with Petchey
Despite the limited time together, Petchey has already made a positive impact on Raducanu’s game. Jim Courier noted a change in her service motion, aimed at generating more power and disguise. Raducanu herself has highlighted Petchey’s focus on “doing the right things, taking the ball on more, and just repetition of certain drills and patterns”. She feels this approach is a beneficial shift from being overly technical in the past.
Raducanu is embracing a more aggressive mindset and using the season to experiment with her game. “I want to work on doing things differently to try and bridge the gap between where I am now and where I want to be,” she explained.
Clay Court Challenges and Future Prospects
Raducanu has been open about her struggles on clay, admitting she still finds movement on the surface “really difficult”. Her only previous French Open appearance in 2022 saw her reach the second round.
However, she is determined to improve her clay-court game and use this period to develop aspects that will benefit her on all surfaces. “I feel slightly better than I did in Madrid,” Raducanu said. “I want to use this period of the clay season to try and work on certain things in my game that I think are going to help me bridge the gap to the next level”.
Looking Ahead to Alexandrova
Following her victory over Joint, Raducanu is set to face 21st seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in the second round. This will be their third meeting, with their head-to-head record currently tied at 1-1. Alexandrova won their most recent encounter at the Qatar Open 2025.
Alexandrova has had a strong year, winning the Linz Open and reaching the semifinals of the Qatar Open. She has also performed well on clay, reaching the semifinals in Charleston and Stuttgart.
Raducanu will need to bring her best tennis to overcome Alexandrova’s challenge and continue her progress at the Italian Open.
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