Emma Raducanu now four withdrawals away from Roland Garros main draw after latest withdrawal

Emma Raducanu is only four withdrawals away from the main draw at Roland Garros as she looks to again gamble on the potential that she will get through without having to play qualifying. This has been furthered by the Brit deciding against playing in qualifying seemingly as a last resort with Strasbourg being on the same week.

Raducanu took the same gamble with the Australian Open and it worked with the former US Open champion entering into both qualifying and another tournament as a wildcard. Yanina Wickmayer is the latest out which has allowed Erika Andreeva into the main draw,

Renata Zarazua, Sara Errani and Arina Rodionova are ahead of Raducanu with only four now needed. She could yet be boosted by a few more players seemingly en route to withdrawing or are doubts and it could yet be a more simple process in reality than the Australian Open.

Jessica Pegula and Karolina Pliskova remain major doubts. Both didn't play Madrid or Rome and the former hinted that she was unlikely to play the French Open. Tamara Korpatsch and Marie Bouzkova both are also doubts. While other players returning such as Bianca Andreescu aren't 100% yet with the Canadian entering simply to guarantee if she is ready she will be there.

But again it throws into spotlight the potential lack of awareness from her team of needing to play matches and get her ranking up instead of relying on handouts and wildcards. A lot of which aren't forthcoming especially going forward. Raducanu will have the monopoly for instance on grass, but Rome showed that nothing she be relied on with the Brit, Wozniacki and Halep snubbed. But also Raducanu withdrew from qualifying either thinking a wildcard was imminent or after finding out one wasn't forthcoming. When a full strength field is there, these handouts aren't always a foregone conclusion.