Emma Raducanu’s 2025 French Open campaign ended abruptly in the second round with a 6-1, 6-2 defeat to defending champion Iga Swiatek, who maintained her perfect 5-0 record against the Briton. Raducanu, ranked 41st, admitted feeling “exposed” by Swiatek’s relentless pressure, highlighting the “holes” in her clay-court game. The match, played on Court Philippe-Chatrier for the first time for Raducanu, lasted just 79 minutes, with Swiatek’s heavy top-spin forehand and 32 winners overwhelming Raducanu’s eight. Despite a competitive start, Raducanu’s game unraveled after early backhand errors, and she struggled to adapt to Swiatek’s pace and the unfamiliar court environment.
Raducanu, who battled illness and a back spasm earlier in the tournament, acknowledged progress in her first proper clay season since 2022, having reached the Italian Open last 16 and Miami Open quarter-finals. However, heavy losses to top players like Swiatek and Coco Gauff (also 6-1, 6-2 in Italy) underscored the gap to the elite. “You just don’t feel like there is much space on the court, and certain moments you overhit because you feel constant pressure,” she said, per The Independent. Swiatek, the “Queen of Clay” with 23 consecutive Roland Garros wins, exploited Raducanu’s weak second serve (35% points won) and capitalized on three missed break points in the second set.
Criticism also arose over Raducanu’s post-match handshake, labeled “cold” and “dismissive” by Annabel Croft, though Raducanu remained focused on improvement, stating, “I definitely think I can improve certain areas of my game to maybe make me feel like I have less holes.” She now shifts focus to the grass-court season, aiming to build on her 2024 Wimbledon last-16 run. Swiatek, meanwhile, advanced confidently, noting she “knew what to do” against Raducanu. Despite sponsorship pressures and health setbacks, Raducanu’s resilience and top-50 return signal potential, but her 3-14 record against top-10 players highlights the challenge ahead.
