Emma Raducanu is approaching the 2025 Italian Open with renewed optimism, calling the tournament a “fresh start” under a new support system. The 22-year-old British tennis star is back on clay after a second-round exit in Madrid, and she hopes to make a mark in Rome, where she plays an unknown qualifier in the first round and could face world No 20 Ekaterina Alexandrova in round two.
This is Raducanu’s second career appearance at the Italian Open, returning to the venue after retiring injured during her 2022 debut. She revealed a stronger mindset this time: “I feel more optimistic, I feel pretty positive about things going forward. I’m just taking it day by day and trying to stay consistent.”
Raducanu has been training under Mark Petchey, shifting focus from technique to strategy and repetition. “It’s more about doing the right things, taking the ball on more… 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 said.
Meanwhile, fellow Brit Katie Boulter is also in Rome aiming to build momentum after her first WTA clay win in Madrid. Now ranked inside the world’s top 40, Boulter hopes improvement on clay will boost her grass season preparation. “You have to keep your mind in check… if I improve physically on the clay I know the grass is going to be even easier,” she stated.
Source: Swifteradio.com
