Raducanu returns after a month with clay win

Emma Raducanu ended a month-long break from tennis to pick up her first clay win in more than a year as she advanced into the second round of the Madrid Masters on Wednesday.

The Briton who last competed in late March in a Miami quarter-final, defeated Dutchwoman Suzan Lamens 7-6 (4), 6-4 result; she last won on the surface in April, 2024, in Stuttgart.

Raducanu fought back from a break down in both sets before subduing the No. 73.

“I know I had to play really well to win and although it wasn’t always my best, I got stuck in at the right moments,” the winner said.

“I’m proud of how I competed. It is a strength of mine when I can use it.”

Raducanu and her family are known for chewing through coaches and have now made a move towards former player and current TV pundit Park Petchey, in a move made during her April absence from the match court.

The 54-year-old who retired in 1998, was in the Raducanu player box for her win at the Caja Magica in the Spanish capital.

The budding coaching relationship still seems to be more than a bit tentative.

 “We haven’t made anything formal. It’s pretty informal for now but is something that’s going really well,” she told Sky Sports.

“He’s someone I feel I can trust because I’ve known him so long. For now it’s working really well and it’s nice to be with someone that I feel comfortable with.”