Briton shows grit in Madrid with straight-sets win over Lamens on clay-court season debut.

Emma Raducanu made a winning return to the WTA Tour with a hard-fought 7-6 (4), 6-4 victory over Suzan Lamens in the opening round of the Madrid Open, overcoming a stern test from the Dutchwoman in her first clay-court match of the season.

Raducanu, 22, showed glimpses of the resilience and shot-making that defined her early rise, responding to pressure with calm resolve in a match that was anything but straightforward. Lamens, ranked 73rd, came into the contest in fine form after strong performances in the Billie Jean King Cup and a semi-final run in Rouen. She was quick out of the blocks, hammering her topspin forehand across the court with intent and making life difficult for the Briton from the off.

Raducanu, ranked No 49, found the transition to clay less than smooth. She admitted afterwards that the surface still felt “a little foreign” to her. “I haven’t played many matches on clay,” she said, “so I’m really happy with how I worked my way into the match. I don’t think I played my best level but I competed really well.”

That ability to adapt and dig deep proved crucial. Playing in Madrid’s high altitude, which can make timing the ball tricky, Raducanu initially struggled for rhythm. Lamens capitalised, dragging her around the court with heavy groundstrokes, particularly on her favoured forehand wing. At 4-4 in the first set, the Dutch player forced three break points on Raducanu’s serve. But the Briton responded with a string of fearless forehands to hold serve and stay level.

From there, she edged the opening set in a tense tie-break, exploiting Lamens’ less reliable backhand under pressure. Rather than freeing her up, the first set win led to a dip, and Raducanu was broken early in the second. But she steadied the ship with some crafty point construction and excellent court coverage, eventually turning the tide in her favour.

Behind her success lies a renewed sense of stability. After an encouraging quarter-final run in Miami, Raducanu skipped both the Billie Jean King Cup and WTA Rouen, opting instead for a 10-day training block in Los Angeles. She was joined there by Mark Petchey, the former player and broadcaster who also guided her in Florida, and he was courtside once again, offering steady support.

The pairing, which she described as “trustworthy,” seems to be working. While still searching for her top level, Raducanu’s mental composure and tactical variety proved decisive—traits she’ll need in abundance for her next challenge: 24th seed Marta Kostyuk in round two.

Lamens, for her part, made Raducanu work for every point. Her relentless rally tolerance and tactical aggression made this a valuable test for the Briton, who ultimately won out thanks to a blend of clever shot selection, grit and timely precision.

Elsewhere on a productive day for British tennis, Sonay Kartal joined Raducanu and Katie Boulter in round two, defeating Jaqueline Cristian 6-2, 7-5. Kartal’s reward is a tough clash against Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina, the 17th seed. Francesca Jones, however, was edged out in three sets by Dayana Yastremska despite a valiant effort.

For Raducanu, this latest win may not have been her cleanest, but it was arguably one of her most mature. She’ll need to raise her game to get past Kostyuk, but signs of a more consistent and resilient Raducanu are beginning to emerge—just in time for the heart of the clay season