Emma Raducanu has obtained a fairly robust first-round attract Madrid because the Briton is ready to conflict towards former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova, whereas Naomi Osaka had extra luck and he or she will probably be beginning her marketing campaign towards a qualifier.
Raducanu, who was awarded a essential draw wildcard into Madrid, is slated to play on the event for the second time after beforehand debuting on the event in 2022. Two years in the past, Raducanu did stable as she gained her opening two matches earlier than shedding to Anhelina Kalinina within the round-of-16.
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Final yr, Raducanu got here to Madrid however pulled out of the event on the final second as a result of wrist points and shortly after had three surgical procedures. However this yr, Raducanu is absolutely wholesome and set to tackle two-time Grand Slam finalist Pliskova.
When Raducanu, 21, and 32-year-old Pliskova meet in Madrid, it is going to be their first assembly.
Raducanu faces Pliskova, Osaka a qualifier
Whereas Raducanu is ready to tackle a Grand Slam finalist and a former world No, 1, Osaka will study her Madrid first-round opponent solely after the qualifying occasion concludes.
When 26-year-old Osaka kicks off her Madrid marketing campaign, she will probably be making her fifth essential draw look at Caja Magica. Previously, Osaka had one good Madrid run – she made the quarterfinal in 2019 earlier than shedding to Belinda Bencic. In her final two Madrid appearances, Osaka suffered back-to-back second-round losses in 2021 and 2022.
For this yr, Osaka is hoping to develop on clay and change into a greater participant on the slowest floor. Contemplating every part, drawing a qualifier – which probably means Osaka could have a positive first-round matchup – definitely helps the Japanese tennis star.
This previous week, Raducanu began her clay season in Stuttgart whereas Osaka performed in Rouen. Raducanu reached the quarterfinal in Stuttgart earlier than shedding to Iga Swiatek, whereas Osaka suffered a Rouen first-round loss to Martina Trevisan.
