Emma Raducanu toils in three-set defeat by Marta Kostyuk at Madrid Open

25 avril 2025 à 19:48

Ukrainian 24th seed wins 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to make third round
Raducanu: ‘I found moving really difficult’

In the searing heat of the Spanish capital, the warmest day of this year’s Madrid Open so far, Marta Kostyuk stepped on to the clay courts of the Caja Mágica determined to make a statement against her most prominent contemporary. By the end of a tense, difficult tussle, it had duly been delivered. Kostyuk, the 24th seed, produced an impressive performance to end Emma Raducanu’s tournament in round two with a 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 victory.

Although Raducanu fought well and maintained her composure until the end, a victory over Kostyuk would have marked her best career win outdoors on clay. She was ultimately defeated by a superior clay-court player who was far more comfortable playing her offensive game in fast conditions at Madrid’s elevated altitude. Afterwards Raducanu noted that she did not feel entirely comfortable on the surface.

Daria Kasatkina: ‘If I wanted to live a free, open life I couldn’t do it in Russia’

The Guardian

Par :Tumaini Carayol

24 avril 2025 à 17:50

After opposing the war in Ukraine and coming out as gay, the 27-year-old made a ‘tough’ choice to change her nationality to Australian

Over the past three years Daria Kasatkina has slowly come to terms with a painful truth: the country she was born in, grew up in and represented with great success in the most prominent women’s sport steadfastly rejects her existence.

Four months after Kasatkina came out as gay in 2022, the Russian government enacted a slew of laws aimed at cracking down on and criminalising homosexuality. Last year, Russia began to convict people charged with displaying pro-LGBTQ+ imagery. While travelling the world for her profession, already competing under a neutral flag in the grim shadow of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the 27-year-old spent much of her time ruminating over whether it was time for her to depart.

Emma Raducanu returns to action with Madrid Open win over Suzan Lamens

The Guardian

Par :Tumaini Carayol in Madrid

23 avril 2025 à 17:59

First clay-court match of the season is 7-6 (4), 6-4 victory
‘Not my best level but I competed really well,’ says Briton

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.

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.

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