- British player holds on for 7-5, 6-7 (1), 6-3 win
- Naomi Osaka beats Sara Errani to reach second round
Emma Raducanu continued her clay-court education in the notoriously slow, heavy nighttime conditions at the Italian Open as she held off a spirited comeback from the Australian 19-year-old Maya Joint and quelled her own nerves to reach the second round with a gritty 7-5, 6-7 (1), 6-3 win.
The victory is Raducanu’s first in Rome in her second appearance at the event. In 2022, the only other time she had competed in this tournament, Raducanu was forced to retire in the first round against Bianca Andreescu. She will next tackle a familiar face in Ekaterina Alexandrova, the 21st seed, an opponent she has already battled twice this year.
