Emma Raducanu cries tears of joy after thrashing Marta Kostyuk in Madrid
Simon Briggs
·13-min read
Emma Raducanu celebrates a dominant win - Getty
Emma Raducanu’s face crumpled in joyful emotion – and what might even have been tears – as she turned to her player box after claiming her fifth win of this embryonic clay-court season.
As she explained afterwards, she wasn’t thinking about her place in the last 16 of the Madrid Open – the biggest women’s event in Europe outside the slams. Her exultation was more about the quality of her performance, which was full of aces and screaming forehand winners.
“It was a really fun match to play,” said Raducanu afterwards. “One of those where you feel like you're playing really well so it's always nice when that happens. It doesn't always but you definitely got to ride it when it does.”
Raducanu’s opponent on Sunday was fellow 19-year-old Marta Kostyuk, an old foe from the juniors. These two met in Romania in October, when Raducanu was suffering from a virus, and Kostyuk romped to a 6-2, 6-1 victory in just 57 minutes.
This time around, it was Kostyuk who looked to be struggling. Not physically, but from the spiritual exhaustion of being a Ukrainian player whose friends are coming under deadly fire from Russian missiles. She told CNN this week that she has resorted to a psychologist in an effort to control her “scary” thoughts.
Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine - Getty
Kostyuk is one of several tennis-playing Ukrainians who have pressed on with their careers, for what else can they do? Indeed, Raducanu’s next opponent – Anhelina Kalinina, who scored a surprise 6-3, 6-0 victory over former Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza on Sunday – is another member of the group.
It was an awkward situation for Raducanu, which demanded a disciplined, professional performance. She delivered that and much more, landing 77 per cent of her first serves and deploying a broad range of tactics including a nifty forehand drop shot.
In between points, she kept urging herself on with positive self-talk. Afterwards, she explained that she had always expected Kostyuk to mount a recovery at some stage, and wanted to be ready for the comeback when it happened.
It never arrived, however. A disconsolate Kostyuk planted her second serve into the net on the third match point that she faced, and Raducanu was home. The scoreline – 6-2, 6-1 – was an exact mirror image of the result in Romania – except that this match lasted seven minutes longer than its predecessor.
Asked about her urgent demeanour and multiple fist-pumps, Raducanu replied “Yeah, I mean, today I feel it was one of those matches where I was so focused that I actually didn't know what the score was. I was just so zoned in on every single point because I knew as soon as I let up, she was just waiting for that moment and she's a fighter. I've known her since juniors. She's been known as a fighter for many, many years and I just knew that I had to be on it if I wanted to get the job done.”
Raducanu beats Kostyuk in straight sets - as it happened
04:12 PM
On top
Raducanu powers a shot - Getty
04:11 PM
A tough afternoon for the opponent
Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine - Getty
04:06 PM
That's the best
she has played since the US Open, she looks in great touch, power and movement are good, clinical but enjoying herself. Hopefully she can go well here.
04:03 PM
Emma Raducanu wins 6-2 6-1
Really impressive from Emma Raducanu.
"Definitely very happy with my performance. I knew she would be a tough battle, I tried to play really aggressive. It's pretty funny, it is my first clay court season, Madrid is a great city and it has such a cool vibe. I want to stay here as long as possible. It's insane the support I have been getting here! Gracias a todo!"
"First clay court season, nothing to lose. Any more match is a bonus. I am just vibing here, to be honest. I am loving it. I have found joy in the process of getting knocked back down and getting up again. I have been trying to hit a lot of drop shots and it is beginning to pay off. I have always loved sliding I would go play at some random clay court when I was ten. I feel like I have been struggling before with my movement, but I am enjoying it here."
04:03 PM
Raducanu 6-1 Kostyuk* (*denotes server) Raducanu won first set 6-2
Poor Kostyuk under the pump in this one as well. It's 15-40. She gets it to deuce but there's only one woman in this match right now and a combo of double fault and Raducanu excellence mean that Emma won't need another service. Another break, and it is GSM Emma Raducanu.
03:54 PM
Raducanu* 5-1 Kostyuk (*denotes server) Raducanu won first set 6-2
Wild forehand from Emma gives away the first point, and now Kostyuk gets after the Raducanu second serve. 0-30. But a couple of iffy returns from Kostyuk and it's 30-30. Ace gives her the next point, and she has taken control of the next rally. However, with the game on a plate, she puts a simple volley into the net. It's deuce. Wraps this game up with a little bit of help from the net cord and is now just a game away.
Emma Raducanu vs Marta Kostyuk live: score and latest match updates from the Madrid Open. - GETTY IMAGES
03:52 PM
Raducanu 4-1 Kostyuk * (*denotes server) Raducanu won first set 6-2
Kostyuk holds her serve for the first time this set.
03:51 PM
Raducanu* 4-0 Kostyuk (*denotes server) Raducanu won first set 6-2
Raducanu has got her forehand working nicely. Second serve ace down the centre now! Nicely done. Holds that game.
03:41 PM
Raducanu 3-0 Kostyuk * (*denotes server) Raducanu won first set 6-2
Unable to get her first serve in, and overpowered on the groundstroke exchanges, Kostyuk is struggling again in her service game. She wins a point and raises her arms in ironic celebration. Best point for a while though at 15-30 as Kostyuk moves Raducanu around, good defence and then a nice drop shot to take control, a 21-shot rally goes the way of the Ukraine player. Thumping return at 30-30 from Raducanu and she has another break point. Kostyuk saves that with power and grace. Deuce. It looks like Kostyuk will be okay, but Emma saves a game point, and now Kostyuk has double faulted again. Her second service looks a real weakness, and a forehand slapped into the net gives Raducanu a second break.
03:38 PM
Raducanu* 2-0 Kostyuk (*denotes server) Raducanu won first set 6-2
It's unforced error after unforced error for the Ukrainian player at the moment. Emma breezing through this second game, Kostyuk looks a beaten opponent.
03:36 PM
Raducanu 1-0 Kostyuk * (*denotes server) Raducanu won first set 6-2
It's 15-40 as Kostyuk double faults, a weak second serve flumping into the net. And now a basic groundstroke goes awry and Raducanu is gifted a break.
03:34 PM
The players come out
for the second set. Kostyuk will serve. She needs to hope that ER comes off her level I guess.
03:30 PM
Emma Raducanu
Wins the first set with real style. Annabel Croft: "striking it with great authority, taking the breath away from the opponent."
03:29 PM
Raducanu* 6-2 Kostyuk (*denotes server)
Emma now serving for the first set...and she does so with the minimum of fuss, winning the game to love.
03:26 PM
Raducanu 5-2 Kostyuk* (*denotes server)
Raducanu is hurrying Kostyuk well at the moment and forcing the errors. A wayward backhand gives Emma a 0-30 advantage, another botched backhand - this one long - gives Raducanu three break points.
She needs all three but does secure a second break after the point of the match so far - Raducanu coming out on top in a fine rally that ends with a Kostyuk error at the net.
03:22 PM
Raducanu* 4-2 Kostyuk (*denotes server)
Having won previous service games to love Raducanu is under pressure here a 0-30. But she shows grit to get it to 30-30 and then next point bullies Kostyuk from the baseline to earn a service point. From there she holds - that was the first test on service passed with flying colours from the Briton.
03:18 PM
Raducanu 3-2 Kostyuk* (*denotes server)
Kostyuk is a feisty competitor and illustrates that here - coming into the net and trying to dominate the rallies.
This is a good watch so far. The Ukrainian is making more errors but a delicate drop shot at the net earns her the game - holding to 30.
Kostyuk clearly has the firepower to take on an aggressive Raducanu.
03:14 PM
Raducanu* 3-1 Kostyuk (*denotes server)
Another impressive service game from Raducanu - she holds to love (again). Her serve looks as good as it's been for a long time.
03:11 PM
Raducanu 2-1 Kostyuk* (*denotes server)
Better from Kostyuk as she gets to a 30-0 lead. But Raducanu is putting pressure on the second serve and it's soon 30-30. A long forehand from the Ukrainian gives Emma another glimpse of a break, making it deuce.
A drop shot, helped over by the net, gives Raducanu a break point. Kostyuk saves that well and soon has advantage but Emma isn't backing off on these baseline exchanges and a blistering backhand gets the score back to deuce.
But the Ukrainian, who is matching Raducanu's power, holds well - a crucial hold for Kostyuk.
03:05 PM
Raducanu* 2-0 Kostyuk (*denotes server)
Impressive first service game from Raducanu - she holds to love thanks to some fine first serves and powerful, aggressive groundstrokes.
A brilliant, fast start from Emma - a statement of intent and she's started this match the way she ended the win over Martincova.
03:03 PM
Raducanu 1-0 Kostyuk* (*denotes server)
A fine first point for Raducanu sees her hit a forehand winner. She's soon up 0-30 but Kostyuk can hit fine forehands as well and a winner down the line gets it back to 30-30.
From there the Ukrainian earns a service point but a long forehand gets it to deuce. The early pressure from Raducanu then earns her a break point, but a long backhand returns the score to deuce.
Another forehand winner down the line earns Emma a second break point and from there she makes no mistake to break in the first game of the match.
Perfect start.
02:54 PM
The players are out on court now
And the start isn't far away.
02:49 PM
A reminder of that brilliant win over Martincova on Friday
It was hugely impressive as she won 11 of the last 12 games.
The Ukrainian is ranked No.60 in the world, but was as high as 49th back in February. She has no singles title to her name but got to the round of 16 at last year's French Open.
The pair have faced each other before - Kostyuk coming out on top 6-2, 6-1 in the quarter-finals of the Transylvania Open last October.
Hello and welcome to Telegraph Sport's live coverage of Emma Raducanu vs Martya Kostyuk
By Simon Briggs
Emma Raducanu’s clay-court season this year has started impressively. Her tally to date stands at four wins from six matches, while she pushed world No1 Iga Swiatek closer than most in Stuttgart ten days ago.
Part of the credit should go to Louis Cayer. A long-serving LTA coach with Canadian roots, Cayer spent a week tightening up her technique – especially on the serve – in early April. The 68-year-old is now being listed as a “technical consultant” on Raducanu’s team, and has become the most influential individual in her loose collection of allies.
Yesterday in Madrid, Cayer sat with Raducanu to run through the analysis of her win over Martincova. His sophisticated Dartfish tagging system allows you to call up every backhand winner hit down the line on the third shot of a rally – or whatever you might want. However, Cayer’s main focus is still the men’s doubles, where Putney’s Joe Salisbury stands at No1 in the rankings, while Liverpool’s Neil Skupski is rising fast.
Today, Raducanu will face Martya Kostyuk – a fellow 2002 baby – who spoke to CNN this week about the challenges of being a Ukrainian on the tennis tour. Kostyuk has clearly been struggling, as anyone in her position would, and she said that one of her fellow players had lost a parent in the bombing.
Kostyuk also added that she started working with a psychologist two weeks ago to try to handle her “scary” thoughts, but that she sometimes wonders “What's the point, where it's all going? It's never-ending like what should I do with my life now? What am I living for?"
Meanwhile, L’Equipe reported yesterday that a group of Russian and Belarusian players had hired a Parisian lawyer specialising in discrimination and human rights to make representations to Wimbledon. The initial contact was reported to be “conciliatory”, while the report added that legal action is also being considered.
