During her Miami run, Rakanu regularly talks about showing “resilience” to win the race and needs to prove that quality again in her first clay game in a year.
Ranked 73rd in the world, Lamens is a belligerent player who has improved dramatically over the past year and is ostensibly very comfortable.
Earlier this month, she beat Britain's No. 1 Katie Boulter in the Billie Jean King Cup tie, and Raducanu missed her body at the start of the season.
Raducanu usually couldn't handle Lamens's thump in the opening game, but recovered from the breakup and saved three more breakout points in Game 9 to drag the opponent into the game.
In these cases, her impressive record is another measure of the mentality of improving the 2021 U.S. Open Championship – and proves it again.
Petchey sat in her box with Jane O'Donoghue, a long-time Raducanu ally, often expressing praise and encouragement at key moments.
Raducanu played a more active role in the second set, but also had to dig deeper as Lamens tried to secure her back behind the baseline.
After she adapted to the fast clay conditions created by Madrid, the British also shone brightly from the British.
Along the run, another thunderous winner piled up under pressure as Lames failed to get the game in the long seventh game.
But this is not an easy way to victory. Raducanu's shaky serve beat 4-4, then the frustrated Lamens swings again and allows the British to gain another confidence-enhancing victory.
“I need to fight and have some very difficult moments,” Lakanu added.
“It’s easy to get frustrated when your opponent plays well and think ‘Oh my goodness, they’ve been on the board a lot.
“But I had to reset and accept her well, there was a reason here, playing tennis.”
