Raducanu edges Lamens in Madrid Open; Monfils sets record
Emma Raducanu edges Suzan Lamens on Wednesday at the Madrid Open, while Gael Monfils set another record with another opening win.
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RADUCANU EDGES LAMENS TO OPEN MADRID CAMPAIGN ON HIGH NOTE
Emma Raducanu edges Lamens, 7-6(4), 6-4, to open her Madrid campaign on a high note.
Furthermore, the 22-year-old British world No.47 held off an aggressive Lamens in her first action after the Miami Open.
Moreover, Raducanu hopes to make a deeper run in her first claycourt event after she reached the last eight in South Florida.
“It’s for sure different stepping into the competition, especially on clay. I haven’t played many matches on this surface, so it does feel a little foreign to me,” the Briton said.
“I played an opponent (Lamens) in great form who has won a lot of matches on clay so I knew I had to play really well to win,” she added.
PETCHEY COACHES BRITON AT MADRID
Mark Petchey joined Raducanu as her tennis coach in Madrid.
Moreover, the former British No.1 took over from Nick Cavaday, who stepped down in January.
Furthermore, Raducanu initially worked with Slovakian Vladimir Platenik for several weeks in March before Petchey entered the fray.
The 54-year-old Petchey is known for coaching retired British tennis great Andy Murray for 10 months at the start of his career.
The Tennis Channel analyst initially coached Raducanu in 2020 and was in Miami along with LTA coach Jane O’Donoghue.
MONFILS SETS RECORD AS OLDEST WINNER IN MADRID
Monfils sets another record after he beat qualifier Borna Gojo, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Furthermore, the 38-year-old Frenchman becomes the oldest player to win in Madrid and his first in the Spanish city since 2022.
Moreover, overcame a slow start that led to an opening-set loss to charge back against his younger opponent.
“At the beginning, he served one second serve. I think he had a 94 first-serve percentage, he played great,” Monfils said of Gojo.
“I (let the) storm pass, then different tactics. I served more with kick and tried to play a little bit different, maybe let him go and not do so much,” he added.
