Emma Raducanu is looking forward to a "fresh start" as she looks ahead to the Italian Open with a renewed sense of optimism.

Raducanu returned to action at the Madrid Open after a short break away from the WTA Tour.

She reached the second round in the Spanish capital, losing to Marta Kostyuk.

The 2021 US Open champion, who has not won a single Tour-level title other than her extraordinary success at Flushing Meadows, will face a qualifier in the first round of the Italian Open later this week.

Raducanu is now working under the guidance of part-time trainer Mark Petchey, and feels positive of stringing together a good run in the clay-court swing, with the French Open starting later this month.

"It is exciting, it does feel like a bit of a fresh start with the way I am approaching everything, with the people I have around, with my mindset and outlook," Raducanu told Sky Sports.

"I feel more optimistic, I feel pretty positive about things going forward. I'm just taking it day by day and trying to stay consistent.

 

 

 

 

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"It's a good challenge for my game. I want to work on doing things differently to try and bridge the gap between where I am now and where I want to be.

"I'm going to use the season to take pressure off, try and be more aggressive and play the way I want to more so, so it can help me on the other surfaces."

Raducanu's deepest run this season came at the Miami Open, where she reached the last eight before losing to Jessica Pegula.

The world number 49 reached the third round of the Australian Open, succumbing to Iga Swiatek.