Emma Raducanu was thrown a curveball just moments before her second-round match at the 2024 Italian Open, but the former US Open champion rose to the challenge. Scheduled to face 21st seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, Raducanu found herself instead preparing for a completely different matchup when the Russian withdrew at the eleventh hour.
In stepped Swiss left-hander Jil Teichmann as a lucky loser, a twist that forced Raducanu to recalibrate her entire game plan on the spot.
Emma Raducanu Advanced to the Italian Open Third Round for the First Time
Raducanu is presently competing in Rome for only the second time in her career. She kicked off her campaign at the WTA 1000 event with a hard-fought 7-5, 6-7(1), 6-3 win over Australian qualifier Maya Joint. Just when she felt prepared for Alexandrova’s challenge, though, news broke that her opponent had pulled out. Teichmann, who had failed to make it past the qualifiers, replaced her before the eventual straight-sets loss.
In an on-court interview with Sky Sports following her second-round victory, Raducanu admitted that the early games were tough but said she was proud of how she adapted and fought through, especially against a strong clay-court player like Teichmann.
“I mean, to be honest, it was pretty mental. I was warming up for my match against Alexandrova, and I was practicing with Mirra [Andreeva], and all of a sudden I get told I’m playing Jil, and then on top of that she’s a lefty, so it is a complete different challenge.”
“I honestly haven’t practiced much with a lefty; haven’t played one since [Marketa] Vondrousova in February in Abu Dhabi. It was a challenge, and first few games I was adjusting to how the ball curls, but I’m really proud of myself for how I fought through. Jil, she’s so good, especially on clay. This is her favorite surface, I feel like. I’m really proud of how I kind of came through that.”
Raducanu’s ability to adapt under pressure secured her a 6-2, 6-2 win. She’s now earned herself a spot in the third round, where she meets Veronika Kudermetova on May 11. The latter reached the final 32 following straight-sets victories against local Lucrezia Stefanini and 15th seed Amanda Anisimova.
The Brit, meanwhile, has advanced to the stage for the first time in Rome, having bowed out in her opener during her 2022 debut. The winner of that match between Emma Raducanu and Kudermetova faces either fourth seed Coco Gauff or Poland’s Magda Linette in the Round of 16.