Emma Raducanu had been riding a bit of a high heading into the French Open.
Her clay court season had shown real promise, and under the watchful eye of her new coach Mark Petchey, she’d started to look more confident.
But reality hit hard in Paris when she ran into world No. 1 Iga Swiatek—and it wasn’t pretty.
In their second-round clash at Roland Garros, Raducanu was simply outclassed.
The four-time French Open champion made quick work of her, breezing to a 6-1, 6-2 win that left little doubt about who dominated the clay.
No Love Lost at the Net
The match might have been one-sided, but the moment that really raised eyebrows came after the final point.
When the two players met at the net, former British tennis star Annabel Croft, now a BBC commentator, described the exchange as “cold” and “dismissive.”
“There was no warmth there between the two players,” Croft observed.
“It was quite dismissive, almost just a handshake and then a walk off.”
This wasn’t their first tense meeting either—Swiatek had also trounced Raducanu 6-1, 6-0 earlier this year at the Australian Open.
A Match That Got Away Quickly
To her credit, Raducanu actually started the match with some promise.
But once Swiatek found her rhythm, there was no turning back.
Her footwork on clay, her consistency, and that rock-solid forehand quickly overwhelmed the 22-year-old Brit.
By the time Swiatek closed in on match point, Raducanu looked drained and deflated.
It wasn’t just a loss—it was a stark reminder of the gap that still exists between her and the sport’s very best.
Raducanu Reflects: “I Felt Exposed”
After the match, Raducanu didn’t shy away from how tough the experience had been.
“It was a really difficult match.
Iga played really well.
It was tough,” she admitted.
“I think in the beginning of the match it was pretty tight, but as it went on, I think she grew in confidence.
I just felt a bit exposed.”
Playing on the iconic Court Philippe-Chatrier for the first time added another layer of pressure.
“It’s a surrounding that she’s obviously very comfortable with and she’s played in it a lot of times,” Raducanu explained.
“For me, it’s new, and I definitely felt a bit uncomfortable.”
She also mentioned how the tightness of the court and constant pressure led to mistakes.
“You just don’t really feel like there is that much space… you overhit, you feel constant pressure.”
A Learning Moment Before the Grass Courts
Despite the lopsided result, Raducanu’s taking it as a learning moment.
“I definitely think I can improve certain areas of my game to maybe make me feel like I have less holes,” she said.
“I’m just going to try my best to work on that. It just shows… the distance that I have to improve.”
And now, it’s time for a surface she knows better.
With clay season officially behind her, Raducanu will turn her attention to the grass courts, kicking off her campaign at the Queen’s Club in early June.
A fresh chapter—and hopefully, a more comfortable one—awaits.