Emma Raducanu has vowed to learn from her disappointing first-round exit at the French Open, after being beaten 6-3, 6-4 by Argentina's Solana Sierra on Court 14 at Roland Garros. The 2021 US Open champion, now ranked 72nd in the world, struggled to find her rhythm on the clay, committing 32 unforced errors and winning just 38 per cent of points on her second serve. Sierra, ranked 123rd, capitalised on Raducanu's inconsistency to claim her first main-draw victory at a Grand Slam.
Speaking after the match, Raducanu said: 'It's obviously disappointing to go out so early, but Solana played very well and made it difficult for me to get into any rhythm. I fought until the end, but today just wasn't my day. I'll take the lessons from this and move forward.' The British No.1 has now failed to progress beyond the second round in any of her last four Grand Slam appearances, a run that has raised questions about her consistency on the tour.
Raducanu's defeat continues a mixed season on clay, which included a second-round showing in Madrid and a first-round loss in Rome. Her performance in Paris was hampered by an inability to convert break points — she managed just two from eight opportunities — and a series of double faults at critical moments. The 22-year-old had shown flashes of her best form in the opening set, but Sierra's powerful groundstrokes and deft drop shots ultimately proved too much.
With the grass-court season now on the horizon, Raducanu is expected to take a short break before returning to training. She is likely to play in the Rothesay International in Eastbourne or the Birmingham Classic as final preparation for Wimbledon, which begins on 1 July. Her team have indicated that managing her workload and building physical resilience remain priorities after a series of injury setbacks in recent years.
Former British No.1 Tim Henman commented on Raducanu's performance, saying: 'She needs to find a way to stay in matches longer and cut down on the unforced errors. The talent is there, but the consistency isn't yet. The grass will suit her game much better, and I expect her to be a dangerous opponent at Wimbledon if she can get a few matches under her belt.' Raducanu reached the fourth round at the All England Club in 2022, her best result at SW19.
Source: BBC Sport / Tennis Association reports