"I have no toenails left" - Raducanu shares first impressions of clay

Thursday, 14 April 2022 at 21:30

Updated at Friday, 16 August 2024 at 16:55

Raducanu Emma Transylvania2021 FlorinBaltatoiu7

byErik Virostko

Emma Raducanu will make her professional clay debut in the Billie Jean King Qualifiers against the Czech Republic, and so far, it's been a bit tricky for the Brit.

British players don't traditionally do well on clay, but Raducanu is keen to change that perception as she gears up to represent her nation against the Czech Republic. Raducanu will spearhead the British team against the Czechs, with Harriet Dart, Sonay Kartal, and others as her teammates.

Speaking ahead of the clash, Raducanu shared her thoughts on playing on the clay courts, which is quite a new experience for the Brit, who recently played at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.

"I have no toenails. Just my foot, my shoes, they’ve just been sliding around a lot."

Raducanu was in a good mood when describing her clay prowess, adding a bit of a joking nature. Team captain Anne Keothavong got in on the joke, explaining how the team is scarred by the sight of her nails.

The British fans will be watching closely how Raducanu does on a surface that is not very familiar to her. It doesn't help that all the players from the Czech Republic are very well-versed on the surface, making the challenge even harder. Raducanu herself is not worried, saying:

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"I genuinely believe that clay could be one of my strongest surfaces because [of] the moving aspect. I do like moving … because I feel like I have a lot more potential physically."

"And I do enjoy sliding. After spending more time on this surface I’m sure I’ll time it better and learn more about the surface, but also just the time that clay brings."

Raducanu hopes to propel her nation to the Finals, but it will be a challenging task. To make it a reality, she may need to win both of her matches.