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.
