WTA Rome: Ekaterina Alexandrova vs Emma Raducanu

WTA Rome: Ekaterina Alexandrova vs Emma Raducanu

🧠 Form & Context

Ekaterina Alexandrova
The Russian is suddenly a force on clay. Her April tear—semifinals in both Charleston and Stuttgart, and a Round of 16 appearance in Madrid—has turned her into one of the most dangerous players this swing. Known for her explosive flat hitting, she’s shown new levels of control and patience. Six top-20 wins in that span (including Pegula and Zheng) make her one of the most in-form players entering Rome. Her past struggles here (2–5 career record) feel almost irrelevant compared to her current form.

Emma Raducanu
The Brit is grinding her way back into rhythm, and a three-set win over Aussie teen Maya Joint in R1 could serve as a mental reset. However, Raducanu remains wildly inconsistent in 2025—reaching a Miami quarterfinal, but failing to back it up elsewhere. Her first-serve percentage is often unreliable, and on clay, that's costly. Her game can dazzle, but sustaining that level over a match remains her challenge.

🔍 Match Breakdown

Alexandrova’s aggressive game traditionally doesn’t suit clay—but this year has been an exception. She’s figured out how to construct points better and finish with authority. Her flat backhand is lethal even on slower surfaces, and she’s been returning second serves with purpose and accuracy.

Raducanu can trouble her with variation and movement, but she’ll need to serve at 65%+ and stay mentally locked in from the first point. Anything short of her best won’t be enough—especially against a player who’s dismantling top seeds weekly.

Their head-to-head stands at 1–1 in 2024, but that tells little about the surface shift. On clay, Alexandrova’s rhythm and timing look more reliable than Raducanu’s patchy transitions.

🔮 Prediction

Prediction: Alexandrova in straight sets. Expect a competitive first set with Raducanu pushing, but the Russian’s consistency and red-hot form should prevail as the match wears on.