Raducanu starts clay season with spirited win over Lamens

Emma Raducanu opened her Madrid Open campaign with a gritty victory against a quality, in-form opponent, holding off Suzan Lamens of the Netherlands 7-6 (4), 6-4 to reach the second round.

- Tumaini Carayol

Over the past three-and-a-half years, as Raducanu has tried to navigate the pressure, stress and discomfort that accompanied her spectacular arrival, there have been times where it seemed like she might find her way. Those hopeful moments were usually fleeting, with a series of tough losses, injuries or a self-sabotaging decision always around the corner.

Here she is again, after reaching the quarter-finals in Miami, her most impressive performance since her US Open triumph, trying to maintain her good form and properly establish herself at the highest levels of the sport.

Although the 22-year-old struggled to find her best level for any sustained period against a quality opponent, this performance was a reflection of her resilience and adaptability as she found a way through her first clay-court match of the season. A greater test awaits in round two against Marta Kostyuk, the 24th seed.