Former US Open champion Emma Raducanu made a resilient return to the French Open on Monday, defeating Wang Xinyu in a hard-fought match to reach the second round. The 22-year-old Briton won 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 in a contest marked by 16 service breaks, which lasted nearly two hours and 45 minutes.
Raducanu admitted she had been feeling unwell throughout the day and even took a medical timeout in the first set but was determined to push through the physical challenges.
This marks Raducanu’s first appearance at Roland Garros since 2022, where she exited in the second round. Her next opponent will be the formidable four-time champion Iga Swiatek, who cruised past Rebecca Sramkova with a 6-3, 6-3 victory.
Raducanu sees the upcoming match as an opportunity to test herself against one of the best, recognizing the challenge but eager to grow from the experience.
Despite her confidence, Raducanu faces a tough record against Swiatek, who has beaten her four times, including a dominant 6-1, 6-0 win at the Australian Open earlier this year.
Still, Raducanu is ready to take risks in the match, knowing that simply playing safely will not be enough against the reigning champion.
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