Emma Raducanu handed enticing Madrid Open draw as clash with former world No 1 beckons

Kevin Palmer
Emma Raducanu's serve has become a major weapon
Emma Raducanu's serve has become a major weapon

Emma Raducanu is in Madrid ahead of her appearance in the WTA 1000 event taking place in the city over the next couple of weeks, with the wildcard she needed to play in the tournament always likely to come her way.

The 2021 US Open champion confirmed her arrival in the Spanish capital with a post on Instagram, as she prepares to make another high-profile appearance on the WTA Tour after a hugely encouraging few days.

The 21-year-old British star was not part of the initial wildcard announcement from Madrid Open chiefs, but they confirmed Raducanu would be playing prior to the draw being made on Sunday.

That draw served up another chance for Raducanu to test herself against a former world No 1, as she will take on Czech star Karolina Pliskova.

Raducanu may see this draw as a good opportunity to make progress as Pliskova has been in indifferent form in 2024, with her win in the WTA 250 tournament at the Transylvania Open in February the highlight of her year.

Pliskova has won only one match in her last three tournaments and at the age of 32, she may be in the latter stages of her career.

Raducanu is making her way back after a challenging 2023 that included surgery on both her wrists and her ankle.

Understandably, she has taken time to get back to top form and fitness after so long away from the game, but she appears to be getting back to her best.

Two fine wins in the Billie Jean King Cup were backed up by a run to the quarter-finals of last week’s Porsche Grand Prix in Stuttgart.

She was beaten 7-6(2) 6-3 by world No 1 Iga Swiatek last Friday and admitted after that match that she was feeling jaded after playing five matches in quick succession.

READ MORE: ‘Nick Cavaday has helped instil an enormous amount of belief in Emma Raducanu’s game’

“It’s no secret that I’m tired,” said Raducanu “I have played a lot of tennis in the last week, but I’d way rather be in this position where I have a lot of matches under my belt, feeling confident and good on the court, and tired.”

Raducanu pulled out of the Miami Open due to discomfort in her lower back, but she is clearly keen to build on the momentum she has built up by playing more top level opposition in Madrid.

While her wildcard into the tournament has yet to be confirmed, Raducanu was in pole position to land a prized ticket to play as her management company own the Madrid Open.

The IMG Group announced it has entered into a agreement to acquire the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament in late 2021 and as they have a big influence over wildcards, Raducanu was always likely to be near the top of their list.

Raducanu will be unseeded once again and could land a big name in the early rounds of the competition, but she is playing a level on clay courts that will challenge players in the top 30 of the women’s game.

Her tight matches with Swiatek and world No 2 Aryna Sabalenka over the last few weeks have confirmed her return to form and she is also growing in confidence.

“I think it helps I feel like the last two tournaments, I have more of a serve, so it’s more of a weapon,” she said in Stuttgart last week.

“I feel like I can raise my game more on that I feel like at the start of the year it was more just having to work so hard and win every point from the baseline. I feel like that definitely makes a difference.

“Equally I just feel like I trust all the work I have been doing on the practice courts so much. I have been working at it really hard.

“I wouldn’t say I do anything particularly special. I just try and stay in the present and rely and fall back on my training.

“I would be lying if I said I wasn’t tired, but I would way rather be in this position where I have played a lot of matches and I’m feeling fatigued than being super fresh and losing. It’s funny, because you always want something that you can’t have.

“I am playing some really good tennis. I feel like I’m a lot more dominant in my service games. I feel like I’m playing level-wise, I am playing really well. I think everyone that I was practicing with can attest to that too.”

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