As the Italian Open approached, Emma Raducanu recognized that her strategy for clay court tennis needed a shift. Rather than making major adjustments to suit the surface, she aimed to impose her style on the red clay. Taking command from her front legs seemed to be her focus.
Credit where it’s due—she executed this plan impressively during her match. Raducanu gained confidence and rhythm in Rome, delivering one of her finest performances of the season with a decisive 6-2, 6-2 victory over Jill Teichmann, advancing to the third round.
A few days prior, following a tense first-round win against the challenging Australian Maya, she had struggled in the second set before clinching the match.
Unlike the cold, pressure-filled atmosphere of her first match at Supertennis Arena, playing in the afternoon heat helped elevate her offensive play, concluding at 10:45 PM. However, just three hours before her next match, she was set to face the 21st seed, Ekaterina Alexandrova, but that changed when Alexandrova withdrew. Teichmann, ranked No. 94 and a left-handed player with a topspin forehand, stepped in, offering a starkly different challenge than the flat-hitting Alexandrova.
This shift presented a valuable opportunity for Raducanu to face a lower-ranked opponent. “Honestly, it was quite mental,” Raducanu noted during an on-court interview with Sky Sports. “I was warming up for Alexandrova and practicing with Mira Andreeva, then suddenly I’m told I’m up against Jill. Being left-handed presented its own challenges too.” She added that she hadn’t played against a lefty since February, which made it tricky adjusting to the ball’s spin early on. Nevertheless, she felt proud of her adaptability.
From the outset, she stayed inside the baseline, striving to control the rallies and take early initiative against her Swiss rival. After the first four games, which they split evenly, Raducanu found her rhythm, showcasing some of her best ball striking this season. While her two-handed backhand often plays a crucial role in her success, it was an exceptional day for her forehand that drove this performance.
In addition to her usual sharp shotmaking and pace, Raducanu effectively blended her forehand styles, making it difficult for Teichmann with a mix of heavy topspin and powerful flat shots. It was an impressive demonstration of clever, aggressive tennis that translated well on clay. Along with delivering remarkable forehands, Raducanu served strongly at key moments and maintained more consistency with her second serve.
After winning points, she expressed her excitement much like in her prior matches, celebrating key shots with fist pumps and enthusiastic cheers. This likely illustrated her determination to embrace this aggressive style of play. With the first set secured, Raducanu’s confidence surged as she broke early in the second, appearing comfortable throughout. Although it took her four match points to seal the victory in the final game, she completed a notable performance without much drama.
