María Lourdes Carlé Stuns Emma Raducanu in 2024 Madrid Masters Debut

In a remarkable upset at the 2024 Madrid Masters 1000 tennis tournament, Argentine qualifier María Lourdes Carlé defeated former top 10 player Emma Raducanu 6-2, 6-2 in the first round. The 24-year-old Carlé, ranked 82nd in the world, secured her maiden WTA 1000 victory and highest-profile win in just her second appearance in a WTA 1000 main draw.

Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, struggled throughout the match, hitting 19 unforced errors in the first set alone. The British player had been in good form recently, reaching the quarterfinals of the Stuttgart Open where she pushed world No. 1 Iga Swiatek to a tiebreak. However, that form deserted her in Madrid as she was unable to find her rhythm against the inspired play of Carlé.

Why this matters: Carlé's victory marks a significant milestone for Argentine tennis, as she becomes the first player from her country to defeat a former women's singles Grand Slam champion since Nadia Podoroska's win over Serena Williams in Rome in 2021. The result also raises questions about Raducanu's ability to consistently perform at the highest level and handle the physical demands of the WTA Tour.

Raducanu admitted to feeling "exhausted" and "mentally and emotionally drained" coming into the tournament, citing her busy schedule and the absence of her coach Nick Cavaday as contributing factors. British Billie Jean King Cup captain Anne Keothavong criticized Raducanu's performance, stating that "the performer didn't show up" and that she wasn't "ready for the fight."

Carlé, who reached the tournament as a qualifier, took advantage of Raducanu's errors to seize control of the match. The Argentine has been having a strong season, recently winning a WTA 125 event, and her victory over Raducanu sets up a second-round clash with 17th seed Veronika Kudermetova.

The defeat was a disappointing start to the Madrid Open for Raducanu, who had been hoping to build on her impressive run in Stuttgart. The loss also raises doubts about her participation in the upcoming French Open. As Raducanu takes time to rest and recharge, the tennis world will be eagerly watching to see if she can bounce back and recapture the form that saw her become a Grand Slam champion at such a young age.

Key Takeaways

• Argentine qualifier María Lourdes Carlé defeated former top 10 player Emma Raducanu 6-2, 6-2.
• Carlé's victory marks a significant milestone for Argentine tennis, as she becomes the first player from her country to defeat a former women's singles Grand Slam champion.
• Raducanu admitted to feeling exhausted and mentally/emotionally drained, citing her busy schedule and the absence of her coach.
• Carlé took advantage of Raducanu's errors to seize control of the match, setting up a second-round clash with 17th seed Veronika Kudermetova.
• The defeat raises doubts about Raducanu's participation in the upcoming French Open as she takes time to rest and recharge.