Emma Raducanu battles back from the brink in first set to produce dominant victory over Tereza Martincova at Madrid Open

Emma Raducanu came from 5-2 down in the first set to beat Tereza Martincova 7-6(3) 6-0 to progress to the second round of the Madrid Open. The British No. 1 won 11 of the last 12 games — and a first-set tie-break — to produce a brilliant comeback victory in one hour and 38 minutes as she continues her preparations for the French Open which begins on May 22.

Ad/> The 2021 US Open winner is playing in her first tournament with Iain Bates, head of women's tennis at the LTA, who joined her team following her split from German coach Torben Beltz. WTA MadridSolo until Wimbledon? Hire Djokovic's ex-coach? Raducanu's options analysed9 HOURS AGO The world No. 11, who is making her debut at the Madrid Open, will play wild card Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk next.

Raducanu and Kostyuk have met once on the WTA Tour and that was at the Transylvania Open quarter-finals last year which Kostyuk won 6-2 6-1. «It was a tricky first set,» Raducanu said on-court after beating Martincova. «I think it's always tough playing on a brand new court so it took me a bit of time to adjust to my surroundings.

If you're low or lacking in your own game then your opponent at this level is going to take advantage of that. »I'm just glad that I stuck through the first set and definitely relaxed in the second. «I love Madrid.

I've been out once. I think it's such a cool vibe and I can't wait to go out a few more times hopefully. Right now I'm just recovering.