Emma Raducanu, the 22-year-old British star and 2021 US Open champion, secured her first French Open victory since 2022, defeating China’s Wang Xinyu 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 in a grueling two-hour-and-45-minute battle on Court 8 at Roland Garros on May 26, 2025. Ranked No. 43, Raducanu overcame a lingering back injury and a resilient opponent to advance to the second round, where she faces a daunting challenge against four-time champion Iga Swiatek. This win marks a significant milestone in Raducanu’s clay-court resurgence, following a promising 2025 season that saw her reach the Italian Open fourth round and defeat top-20 player Daria Kasatkina in Strasbourg.
Match Recap
Raducanu’s match against Wang, ranked No. 41, was a test of physical and mental endurance. Despite a back spasm from her Strasbourg loss to Danielle Collins, Raducanu showed resilience, managing her injury with dry needling and heat therapy. The first set was tight, with Raducanu capitalizing on Wang’s inconsistent serve to win 7-5. Wang fought back in the second, exploiting Raducanu’s mid-match medical timeout for back treatment to level the score at 4-6. In the decisive third set, Raducanu surged to a 5-0 lead with aggressive groundstrokes, but Wang mounted a comeback, breaking back to 5-3. Raducanu held firm, sealing the match with a stunning forehand after Wang’s double fault handed her two match points. “Not great,” Raducanu joked to Laura Robson on TNT Sports about her physical state, but she praised her fight, saying, “I had to scrap and fight for it.”
Context and Significance
This victory, Raducanu’s first at Roland Garros since her 2022 second-round appearance, ends a three-year drought at the tournament, where she skipped 2024 due to a protected ranking of No. 103 and lack of a wildcard. Her 2025 clay season has been her strongest yet, with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Kasatkina in Strasbourg and a fourth-round run in Rome, where she lost to Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-2. Posts on X, like @TheTennisLetter, celebrated her progress: “Crazy to think this is only her 2nd Roland Garros appearance… She’s been playing her best tennis since the U.S. Open.” Raducanu’s 63% service game win rate and 54.4% break point conversion were key, though Wang’s stronger 69.3% service game hold and 62.1% break point saves made it a tactical battle.
Injury and Preparation Challenges
Raducanu’s back issues, which flared up in Strasbourg, required her to overcome a phobia of needles for treatment, as she told BBC Sport: “It feels OK, not 100% yet, but we’re working towards that.” Her team, including informal coach Mark Petchey and long-time ally Jane O’Donoghue, has fostered a relaxed mindset, contributing to her 8-3 record with Petchey in 2025. Despite practicing the day before and morning of the match, Raducanu noted the difference between practice and match intensity, yet her aggressive play—highlighted by a forehand winner to close the match—showed her growing clay-court confidence.
Next Challenge: Iga Swiatek
Raducanu now faces world No. 2 Iga Swiatek, who defeated Rebecca Sramkova 6-4, 6-3, extending her Roland Garros win streak to 22. Swiatek, a four-time champion, has beaten Raducanu in all four prior meetings, including a 6-2, 6-2 thrashing at the 2025 Australian Open. Analysts, like Jordan Reynolds on LastWordOnTennis, suggest Raducanu’s fitness will be crucial, but her controlled aggression gives her a slight edge if healthy. A potential fourth-round clash with Elena Rybakina looms if she pulls off an upset.
Broader French Open and Sporting Context
Raducanu’s gritty win aligns with other 2025 French Open narratives. Jannik Sinner, also in action, faces crowd scrutiny amid his doping ban, while Novak Djokovic navigates emotional and competitive challenges. Off the court, Jack Grealish’s transfer rumors to Napoli and Luke Littler’s darts milestone chase reflect the pressure on young stars like Raducanu to perform under scrutiny. Her ability to “grit through” a nearly three-hour match, as noted by BBC commentary, sets her up to play with “a lot of freedom” against Swiatek, despite the odds. As Raducanu recovers for her May 28 second-round match, her resilience and clay-court growth make her a compelling figure at Roland Garros 2025.
