Emma Raducanu has earned a place in the French Open second round, where she will take on defending champion Iga Swiatek.
Swiatek made tennis history as she won her first round match against Rebecca Sramkova, with the former WTA number one triumphing 6-3, 6-3.
Raducanu meanwhile, the 2021 US Open champion and former world number 10, won her French Open first round match 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 against Wang Xinyu.
Briton Raducanu had an injury issue in her opener, but managed to overcome the problem to set up a second round clash with Swiatek.
The pair also met at the 2025 Australian Open, where the Pole defeated the former British number one in the third round.
Emma Raducanu uses new ‘weapon’ during French Open first round win
Swiatek heads into the clash as the three-time French Open defending champion, but Raducanu is feeling good after her victory.
A heavy reliance on her forehand was highlighted after the match, with the Briton saying of that part of her game: “I think it’s a good development of my game which has come in more recent times.
“I enjoy looking for it and seeing how far out of the centre I can run around and how many backhands I can take as forehands. I think just in terms of angle I have a lot more options when I look for a forehand on that middle ball.
“I am happy with the way it has come across and it is developing into a weapon so I am really pleased with that and the work that I have done on it and the work that has been started more since Miami and I am really committed to the shots.
“Growing up my backhand was always my strongest shot so I guess my main goal and objective is to have the best of both worlds.”
Emma Raducanu compared to Andy Murray in French Open first round
Raducanu battled her opponent and injury to reach the second round, which should give her plenty of confidence.
But Swiatek does, of course, represent a different challenge entirely, with the Pole perhaps the one player Raducanu will have wanted to avoid.
She hasn’t been at her best this season, but Swiatek has won the French Open in each of the last three years.
It is a remarkable record from the five-time Grand Slam champion, who has a 4-0 win-loss record over Raducanu.
The Briton meanwhile was compared to another multiple major winner during her opener, with former British number one Annabel Croft drawing comparisons between her and Andy Murray.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, former British number one Croft said during the second set: “I think Raducanu’s moonball is really quite effective. She uses it really cleverly.
“She does a lot of what Andy Murray did in his career because whenever he was pushed out defensively, he was known for those big high moonballs.
“It allowed him to reset the point. I think Raducanu is definitely similar in that department, she neutralises what has just happened and then gets herself back into the point.”
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
