Emma Raducanu beats Wang Xinyu to set up clash with Iga Swiatek on return to French Open
The Briton, who won the US Open in 2021, lost in the second round three years ago in her only previous appearance at Roland Garros
Emma Raducanu made a winning return to the French Open on Monday as she beat Wang Xinyu in three sets to set up a second-round clash with reigning champion Iga Swiatek.
The 22-year-old Briton overcame her Chinese opponent 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 in her first appearance at Roland Garros since 2022, on a day when Carlos Alcaraz began the defence of his men’s title with a straight-sets victory.
Former US Open winner Raducanu fell in the second round three years ago in her only previous appearance at the Paris tournament, and will face a stern test if she is to better her Roland Garros record this time around.
She will meet four-time winner Swiatek in the round of 64, after the Pole, who entered the tournament on a near-year-long trophy drought, showed signs of form in a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Slovakia’s Rebecca Sramkova.
Her struggles since the last of her four French Open titles have been well documented, but she broke her 42nd-ranked opponent four times in a strong display.
The five-time grand slam champion’s remarkable win-loss record in the tournament now stands at 36-2.