Raducanu eyes fresh momentum at the Italian Open, optimistic about her form after Madrid disappointment.
Emma Raducanu is embracing a sense of optimism as she heads into the 2025 Italian Open, her second career appearance at the prestigious tournament. The 22-year-old British tennis star, who is still working to regain her best form, feels the upcoming event provides a “fresh start” after a disappointing second-round exit at the Madrid Open in April.
Raducanu, who stunned the world with her US Open win in 2021, is looking to put her recent setbacks behind her and start anew in Rome. “It feels exciting,” Raducanu said ahead of her campaign. “It’s like a fresh start with the way I am approaching everything, with the people I have around me, with my mindset and outlook.”
The British number two will open her campaign against a qualifier in the first round, but should she progress, she will face world No 20 Ekaterina Alexandrova, a much tougher opponent in the second round. Raducanu is determined to focus on staying consistent and embracing a more positive mindset going forward.
Before arriving in Rome, Raducanu took a brief break from competition following her quarter-final run at the Miami Open in March. During this period, she worked on refining her game with renowned coach Mark Petchey. The duo has made “certain tweaks” to her approach, aiming to close the gap between where she is now and where she wants to be. “We want to work on doing things differently,” she explained, underlining her desire for improvement.
Raducanu’s quest for success in Rome follows her efforts to rebuild after her challenging year in 2024, where she faced both physical and mental challenges. Despite these setbacks, her determination has remained unwavering. “I feel more optimistic, I feel pretty positive about things going forward,” Raducanu said, adding that she’s taking it day by day while focusing on the fundamentals of her game.
She’ll be leading the charge for British tennis in Rome alongside Katie Boulter, the British number one, and Sonay Kartal, the third-ranked Brit. Both players will be in action at the tournament, with Boulter set to face Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the first round and Kartal playing Australia’s Kimberly Birrell on Tuesday. Raducanu, who is expected to play her first-round match on either Wednesday or Thursday, will be hoping to make a deep run in what is already a challenging draw.
As the only British woman to win a Grand Slam title since Virginia Wade, Raducanu is under the spotlight, and expectations are high. Yet, with a positive mindset and the backing of her team, she is focused on doing the work required to take her game to the next level.
With many hoping she can return to her breakthrough form, Raducanu’s journey in Rome is just the latest chapter in her young career. As she prepares for what could be a pivotal moment in 2025, all eyes will be on her to see if this “fresh start” can propel her back to the top of women’s tennis.
