Emma Raducanu is having a fantastic debut on clay as she eased past Australian Storm Sanders in the round of 32 at the Stuttgart Open on Wednesday.
Reigning US Open champion Emma Raducanu is making her first appearance on a tour-level clay-court at the Stuttgart Open. The 19-year-old was also returning to action after suffering an injury scare at the Billie Jean King Cup.
However, Raducanu didn’t let any of the pressure of her debut or comeback get to her as she sealed a dominant 6-1 6-2 victory over Storm Sanders. The Brit needed only 70 minutes to blow away the Australian qualifier in the Round of 32 at the Stuttgart Open.
The game was only Raducanu’s third professional match on the clay as she made her debut on the surface at the WTA Tour level. The World No. 12 was victorious in her clay debut at the BJK Cup on Saturday but then suffered a right foot injury in her one-sided loss on day two of the tie, needing a medical time out and bathing her feet in “surgical spirit” after picking up severe blisters.
Nevertheless, Raducanu put down a marker with her display against Sanders on Wednesday with a solid showing. She will now face Tamara Korpatsch in the round of 16. If she beats Korpatsch, Raducanu is in line to face recently-crowned World No.1 Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals.
Fans react to Emma Raducanu’s clay-court debut and win over Storm Sanders
Tennis fans on social media poured out their support for Raducanu. Some were ecstatic at the quality of tennis the teenager played on her clay debut. Others were in awe of how Raducanu didn’t even bother celebrating her win as they felt she was here to win some more silverware.
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