Despite being the favorite and having strapping around her left knee, Raducanu’s display on the clay was error-prone, as she won only 13 out of 26 first serve points and a mere 2 out of 14 on her second serve. Carle, who had previously defeated two Australian players to reach her second WTA 1000 main draw, capitalized on Raducanu’s struggles, breaking her serve six times to secure her first WTA main-draw victory since 2022 and just her second-ever on clay. Raducanu’s performance drew criticism from former player Colin Fleming, who noted her lack of competitive spirit and body language on the court. British Billie Jean King Cup captain Anne Keothavong echoed Fleming’s sentiments, expressing disappointment in Raducanu’s failure to compete and suggesting that her fatigue may have been a factor. Raducanu’s first-round exit is a setback in her clay-court campaign, as she prepares for the upcoming French Open. However, it also raises questions about her physical and mental readiness for the grueling clay-court season.
Raducanu’s Clay-Court Form Plummets at Madrid Open
