Emma Raducanu overcame illness to secure a gritty first-round win at the French Open, becoming the first British singles winner at Roland Garros in two years. Her victory over Wang Xinju came despite requiring a medical timeout early on.
Raducanu battled through 16 service breaks and a draining three-set match lasting over two hours. Playing without her coach, she displayed resilience to defeat the Chinese No.43, setting up a tough second-round clash with world No.1 Iga Swiatek.
Meanwhile, fellow Brit Jacob Fearnley impressed with a straight-sets victory over Stan Wawrinka, avenging Andy Murray’s 2024 loss. Raducanu praised Fearnley’s progress, calling the performance a strong sign for British tennis.
Despite her physical struggles, Raducanu expressed pride in pushing through, citing mental toughness and mid-match recovery. She looks forward to resting before facing Swiatek, believing the team’s recent clay-court success bodes well for future rounds.
