Emma Raducanu Fights Through Illness and Pressure to Advance in Rome
Emma Raducanu entered the 2025 Italian Open with determination, eager to put a turbulent stretch behind her. The 22-year-old, who once ranked inside the WTA top ten, has been gradually rebuilding her form after an injury-plagued year and some unsettling off-court incidents, including a stalking scare earlier in the season. Currently ranked world No. 49, she has shown signs of resurgence, particularly during a promising performance at the Miami Open.
Returning to the courts of Rome for the first time in three years, Raducanu made an immediate impact. On May 7, she defeated Australian qualifier Maya Joint in a tense, physically demanding battle. Despite still recovering from a cold and struggling with congestion during the match, Raducanu displayed grit and composure to win 7-5, 6-7, 6-3 in two hours and 44 minutes.
“I’m really proud”
Emma Raducanu reacts after winning her first match at the Italian Open ✅ pic.twitter.com/8nOVblIGU2
— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) May 7, 2025
The contest was anything but easy. Joint, though younger and less experienced, played an aggressive game and pushed Raducanu to the edge. After Raducanu claimed the first set, Joint came back strong, snatching the second set in a tiebreak. A well-timed bathroom break by Raducanu seemed to reset her focus, allowing her to dominate the early stages of the third set with a commanding 5-0 lead. Though Joint narrowed the gap to 5-3, Raducanu held her ground and secured the win.
In her post-match comments on Sky Sports, Raducanu praised her opponent’s level and acknowledged the difficulty of closing out the match. She also highlighted how the late-night crowd helped push her through. Although only a few fans were present due to the remote location of the new court and the 8 p.m. start time, their support made a difference.
Speaking about her health, Raducanu mentioned battling a cold for over a week. Playing in chilly conditions while congested made long rallies even more challenging, but she focused on staying calm and doing what she could to manage the situation.
This outing marks a promising start to her clay-court season. Raducanu had expressed that playing on clay might reduce pressure and allow her to work on being more assertive in her style of play—an approach that paid off in this match. Her aggressive, confident game could signal a deep run ahead of the French Open later this month.
With the victory, Raducanu has climbed to No. 45 in the live WTA rankings. Britain’s current No. 1, Katie Boulter, lost early in Rome, which opens the door for Raducanu—or another rising British talent like Sonay Kartal—to challenge for the top national spot in the coming weeks.
Earlier in the year, Raducanu made waves at the Miami Open with a strong performance. She overcame Japan’s Sayaka Ishii and fought through a marathon match against fellow Brit Emma Navarro, coming back from a third-set deficit despite a foot injury. Her tenacity continued as she reached her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal with wins over McCartney Kessler and Amanda Anisimova. She eventually lost to world No. 4 Jessica Pegula in a three-set battle after dealing with dizziness but proved she could go toe-to-toe with the best.
Off the court, Raducanu has faced emotional challenges, including a disturbing stalker incident in Dubai. Since then, she has started traveling with security and surrounded herself with a supportive inner circle, which she credits for helping her feel safe and focused during tournaments.
Next, she’ll face No. 20 Ekaterina Alexandrova. They are tied 1-1 in their head-to-head history, with Alexandrova winning their most recent encounter. Still, Raducanu’s current momentum and mental strength suggest she could take control this time.
As the French Open approaches, tennis fans are watching closely to see if Raducanu can continue this impressive form and possibly reclaim a spot in the top ten. Her mental toughness and improved game could be key to making it happen.