**Emma Raducanu’s Emphatic Strasbourg Win Signals French Open Ambitions**
Emma Raducanu sent a powerful message ahead of the 2025 French Open with a commanding 6-1, 6-3 victory over No. 6 seed Daria Kasatkina in the first round of the WTA Strasbourg Open on May 19, marking her first win over the Russian after three prior losses. The British No. 2, ranked No. 48, showcased aggressive play, firing 22 winners and breaking Kasatkina’s serve four times, as reported by BBC.com. This emphatic performance, described as a “huge statement” by express.co.uk, boosts her confidence for Roland Garros, starting May 25, where she aims to build on her 2022 second-round appearance.[](https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/articles/cre9qpny8dyo)[](https://www.express.co.uk/sport/tennis/2057424/Emma-Raducanu-French-Open-Daria-Kasatkina-Strasbourg)
Raducanu, a wildcard entrant, disagreed with a journalist’s suggestion that her win was “straightforward,” emphasizing the challenge of facing the World No. 15, per express.co.uk. “I’ve always had an aggressive game, it’s just about consistency,” she said, per mirror.co.uk, highlighting her evolving clay-court prowess. Her improved movement and forehand, honed under coach Mark Petchey, were evident, with fans on X, like @BritishTennisUp, calling it “one of the biggest wins of her life.” The victory, following a fourth-round Italian Open run where she upset Iga Swiatek, underscores her growing comfort on clay, a surface she playfully claimed to be “building a relationship” with, per Sportskeeda.[](https://www.express.co.uk/sport/tennis/2057428/Emma-Raducanu-Strasbourg-Daria-Kasatkina)
Despite Kasatkina’s 3-0 head-to-head lead, Raducanu’s relentless baseline game overwhelmed the clay-savvy veteran, per tennisuptodate.com. Posts on X, like @thedudetalks80, praised her “ruthless, elegant” style, likening it to a Wimbledon Centre Court performance. With a second-round match against Danielle Collins next, Raducanu’s Strasbourg success, backed by a +5 rankings boost potential, per tennis365.com, positions her as a dark horse for Paris, where her aggressive approach could trouble top seeds.\
