Raducanu speaks on motivations ahead of clay-court debut in Stuttgart

British tennis star Emma Raducanu will be competing on clay for the first time in her professional career at next week's Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, and the World No.12 has shared her motivation ahead of her debut on clay.

Raducanu will be back in action next week for the first time since losing her Miami Open debut match from a set and a break up. The 19-year-old has been troubled by injuries and niggles so far this season but has her sights set on a new challenge in the clay season, motivated by the chance to improve her game with little experience on the surface.

It will be a tough first clay event for the world No 12, with nine of the world’s top ten descending on the WTA 500 tournament in Stuttgart but Raducanu is relishing the challenge to build on her unprecedented US Open run from last summer and scalp some more top players.

‟It will be challenging but I have already won matches against some of these players in my short experience on tour,” she said of the strong field. “It would be very motivating to add to my wins against the best players in the world, especially on clay where I have little experience as there aren’t really any clay courts in the UK.

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"This clay season with the French Open as the highlight will be an interesting challenge, but one I am looking forward to.”

The reigning US Open champion also admitted the chance to build on her game was also a big driving force in the upcoming clay swing.

‟I think new challenges will always present themselves and you’ll always be resetting goals,” Raducanu continued. “Personally I’m very focused on the improvements I can make in my game and that motivates me a lot