SMILING Emma Raducanu jokes she is just “vibing” on clay as her dirt development gathers pace.
The Brit, 19, had never played a pro event on the red stuff until just over two weeks ago.
Now she has won five of seven matches on the surface, the latest victory being a 6-2 6-1 revenge mission over Marta Kostyuk in the Madrid Open last 32.
The US Open champ converted five of her 12 break-point opportunities against a player who had regularly battered her in the juniors.
Raducanu plays another unseeded Ukraine star in the form of Anhelina Kalinina in the third round and she said: “It’s pretty funny.
“I am coming into my first clay-court season and I feel like I have nothing to lose.
“Any additional matches are a total bonus.
“It’s insane the support I’m getting. I want to stay here for as long as possible.”
This is the first tournament since she surprisingly ditched coach Torben Beltz after five months and Raducanu joked: “I mean I’m just vibing out here to be honest.
“I love it. A big part of it is the enjoyment factor.
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“In the recent weeks and months especially, I have definitely found enjoyment in the process and the journey of getting knocked down and getting back up.
“That has happened plenty of times in the last six months. I feel like now I am really cherishing everything, the highs and the lows.
“I have always loved sliding – when I was 10 years old, I’d play at some random local clay-court events. I just haven’t done it in recent years.”
Meanwhile, Rafa Nadal will play in Madrid this week and says he has recovered fully from his broken rib injury, which had given him many sleepless nights.
