Emma Raducanu averts tough opener against Xinyu Wang at French Open, Iga Swiatek awaits

Emma Raducanu is through to the second round of the 2025 French Open albeit not without some toil against Xinyu Wang winning it 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 in the end.

Raducanu missed the 2023 and 2024 editions of the tournament due to injury and last year she decided instead to tackle grass earlier instead and have a training block.

But working with Mark Petchey has paid dividends for the game of the former US Open champion who has managed to reach a level she has not reached on clay up to press and she now has a lot to build on.

Albeit she faces a tough run in as she faces Iga Swiatek next who saw off Rebecca Sramkova albeit not entirely easily on Monday afternoon. It was 6-3, 6-3 but it wasn't exactly simple for the former World No.1 who comes into this tournament under a great deal of pressure.

Aryna Sabalenka despite never winning the title previously has taken the mantle as the player to beat with Swiatek's reign as the Queen of Clay under severe threat. With Emma Navarro being swept aside earlier this morning, some thought that perhaps Swiatek would be next.

But it wasn't the case. After an opening set though for Raducanu, it was 7-5 with Wang making far more unforced errors than she hit winners. Hitting 21 in all which proved vital as Raducanu edged through.

But after going 5-1 down against Wang in the second, Raducanu rallied back but needing just one game the Chinese ace clinched it to edge through 6-4.

Raducanu upped the tempo in the deciding set breaking twice for 3-0 and looked to be heading towards the finishing line. This more so at 5-1 as Raducanu looked to hold to win but she spurned two match points. Wang broke for 5-3 but a double fault gift saw Raducanu win through in the end.