Emma Raducanu admitted to not being at her best, but was pleased to mark her return to action with a straight-sets win over Suzan Lamens at the Madrid Open.The 22-year-old took a break from the WTA Tour following her run to the Miami Open quarter-finals last month and instead took part in a training block with Mark Petchey ahead of the clay-court swing.

Emma Raducanu showed plenty of grit as she fist-pumped and yelled her way to victory in her first match of the clay-court season. Against Suzan Lamens’s powerful forehand, Raducanu progressed 7-6, 6-4 at the Madrid Open – coming back from a break down in both sets as well as in the tie-break.

Emma Raducanu made a winning start in Madrid. World no. 49 faced Suzan Lamens and worked hard for a 7-6, 6-4 triumph in an hour and 57 minutes. Thus, the Briton notched her first outdoor clay victory since Roland Garros 2022.