Emma Raducanu Begins Italian Open with Gritty Win and Fresh Optimism
Emma Raducanu has made an impressive start to her 2025 Italian Open campaign, clinching her first-ever win in Rome. She overcame a strong challenge from Australian Maya Joint in a thrilling three-set match, winning 7-5, 6-7, 6-3. After the match, Raducanu expressed her admiration for Joint’s aggressive play, noting how any slightly short shots were quickly punished by the Aussie.
This victory is a welcome change in form for the 22-year-old Brit, who has faced a turbulent season so far. Since the Miami Open in March, Raducanu’s performance has notably improved, thanks in large part to changes in her coaching setup. Her recent results have given her a sense of renewed confidence after a stretch of disappointing early-round exits and frequent coaching changes.
Earlier this year, following her third-round loss to Iga Swiatek at the Australian Open, Raducanu parted ways with her then-coach Nick Cavaday due to personal reasons. A series of lackluster results followed in tournaments such as the Singapore Open, Abu Dhabi Open, Qatar Open, and Dubai. She then worked briefly with Slovakian coach Vlado Platenik, but their partnership ended after a first-round loss at Indian Wells—adding him to a long list of former coaches, now tallying seven in just three years since her U.S. Open win.
In a strategic shift, Raducanu decided to work with more familiar and trusted faces. She brought back Jane O’Donoghue, a longtime mentor, and added former Andy Murray coach Mark Petchey to her team. Since then, her game has shown real promise. At the Miami Open, she reached the quarterfinals, leading to speculation that Petchey could take on a permanent coaching role. However, Raducanu clarified that their arrangement is currently informal, though she praised how well things are going.
Her resurgence hit a bump at the Madrid Open, where she lost in the second round to Marta Kostyuk after winning her opening match. Despite the defeat, she fought hard and took the match to three sets. British tennis player Dan Evans later commented on the instability of Raducanu’s coaching relationships, questioning how sustainable her partnership with Petchey could be if he continues to work in commentary during her matches.
In a May 7 interview with Sky Sports, Raducanu sounded more hopeful than ever. She said she’s taking things “day by day” and feels optimistic about her direction. Without directly naming Petchey, she acknowledged that the people currently around her have helped shift her mindset and approach, calling it a “fresh start.”
Rome marks an important return for Raducanu. Her last appearance at the Italian Open was in 2022, when she was forced to retire from her opening match due to injury. Now, three years later, she’s returned with a stronger game and more stable support system. Much of this improvement, she says, is due to a new focus on gameplay rather than technical perfection—something Petchey has encouraged.
Raducanu explained that in the past, she focused heavily on technique to improve, but her current training emphasizes aggression, rhythm, and repeating effective play patterns. She wants to use this approach to elevate her game and reduce the pressure that’s often surrounded her performances. Her aim is to be more proactive and play the kind of tennis that suits her natural instincts, particularly as she transitions to different court surfaces.
After her opening-round win, Raducanu will next face Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova in the round of 64. The head-to-head record between the two is evenly split, making their upcoming match a highly anticipated showdown. Fans will be watching closely to see if Raducanu’s new approach and coaching support can carry her further in the tournament.