Emma Raducanu vs Marta Kostyuk LIVE: Brit falls to three-set defeat in Madrid Open second round

The British No. 2 took the fight to 24th seed Marta Kostyuk but ultimately fell 4-6, 6-2, 2-6

(Getty Images)

Emma Raducanu lost a tight second-round match at the Madrid Open to Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk, who she beat in the same round of the tournament three years ago.

Kostyuk, who received a bye into the second round, raced into a 2-0 lead but Raducanu fought back in a high-quality match which saw multiple breaks of serve and momentum swings before ultimately losing 4-6, 6-2, 2-6.

The British No. 2 moved into the ascendancy after losing the first set, winning four games in a row and breaking again to seal the second and force a decider.

But a sloppy opening service game conceded the early advantage to the 24th seed, a confident clay-court player whose movement, skilful drop shots and impressive power and accuracy gave her the edge in the deciding set.

Raducanu continued to show moments of her quality and actually won one more point than Kostyuk in the match, but couldn’t hold her serve in the crucial moments as the Ukrainian steamrolled to the finish line and served out the win at the first time of asking.

Follow live updates from their Madrid Open match below:

Emma Raducanu vs Marta Kostyuk LIVE

• Emma Raducanu kicked off her Madrid Open campaign with a win over Suzan Lamens
• Brit faces Marta Kostyuk for a space in the third round
• Kostyuk wins the first set 6-4
• Momentum swings Raducanu's way as she breaks for 4-2 in the second
• Raducanu breaks to seal second set 6-2 and force a decider
• Raducanu breaks back to level tight deciding set at 2-2
• Kostyuk pulls ahead in tense deciding set to lead 5-2 with two breaks

[25 April 2025 14:30 · Flo Clifford]

Good afternoon

Hello and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of Emma Raducanu’s second-round match at the Madrid Open.

She takes on Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in just the second match of her clay season, as she bids to maintain her momentum from the American hard-court spring.

Follow here for all the build-up and live updates from the match.

[25 April 2025 13:12 · Flo Clifford]

When does Emma Raducanu play in Madrid?

Raducanu vs Kostyuk is the fourth match scheduled on Court 4 in the Spanish capital.

Play began at 11am local time (10am UK time) with Francisco Comesana dispatching in-form Frenchman Arthur Fils in the opening match, before Comesana’s compatriot Juan Manuel Cerundolo recorded a similar upset over Felix Auger-Aliassime.

GB’s Sonay Kartal is currently in action against Rouen champion Elina Svitolina, with the Ukrainian 5-2 up in the first set.

That match is the last on Court 4 before Raducanu gets underway, with her match likely to start around 3.50pm UK time.