Emma Raducanu demonstrated her growing confidence on a clay court with a commanding Italian Open second-round win over Swiss lucky loser Jil Teichmann.
British number two Raducanu, who only knew she was facing Teichmann a few hours before the match, progressed with a clinical 6-2 6-2 win.
After earning her first win on outdoor clay in almost three years at the Madrid Open, she has now won back-to-back matches in Rome.
It is the first time Raducanu has reached the last 32 in the Italian capital – although tougher tests than 94th-ranked Teichmann await.
“I still don’t feel really comfortable [on clay],” the 22-year-old English player told Sky Sports.
“I guess in a way it helps I have to be super focused on every single point, get my feet right and try not to fall over.
“I think I’m slowly finding my feet.”
Raducanu was due to face 20th-ranked Ekaterina Alexandrova, but the Russian withdrew through injury on Friday morning.
Instead Raducanu found out in her warm-up she would be playing Teichmann, a left-hander who had lost in qualifying.
Teichmann, 27, has been as high as 21st in the world rankings and is adept on a surface which comes more naturally to her than Raducanu.
“She is a leftie and it’s a completely different challenge. I hadn’t played a leftie since February,” Raducanu said.
“I spent the first few games adjusting to the way the ball curls, but I’m so proud of how I fought through.”
Raducanu will play Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova, ranked 50th in the world, in the third round.
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