Emma Raducanu will open her French Open campaign against Argentina's Solana Sierra on Sunday, a first-round match that immediately asks the 23-year-old to prove she is ready for the grind of a major after two-and-a-half months away with a post-viral illness. It will be Raducanu's second match since March.
Raducanu returned this week in Strasbourg, where she lost a close opening contest to Diane Parry after more than two hours on court. Before heading to Paris, she said she felt much better and described the Strasbourg outing as a positive sign physically, adding that she had only been dealing with a lingering cough and now felt health-wise really good.
The weight of the draw is clear for Raducanu. Her absence dropped her out of the top 32, leaving her unseeded in Paris and facing a 21-year-old opponent who is ranked 64th and arrives with clay-court confidence after a surprise run to the fourth round of Wimbledon last year. Raducanu said the first round would be tricky because she is coming in light on matches, but added that she was proud of how she was approaching each day and of the work she has put in.
She will also have to do it in conditions she expects to be lively. Raducanu said she would need to play aggressive tennis and that the hot weather in practice should help, not hurt. “I know I’m going to have to play really good tennis and be aggressive,” she said. “The conditions are pretty lively in the practice days, as the weather is hot, but that could be a good thing.”
Britain's hopes in Paris are being shaped by fitness concerns elsewhere, too. Cameron Norrie said he is struggling with a rib injury and has not been able to hit since arriving in Paris, though he is scheduled to play on Tuesday. “But I think I needed the rest, so maybe it’s a good thing,” he said, adding that he feels he is striking the ball well and hopes to be ready in time.
There are other British names in the draw as well. Jacob Fearnley will face Juan Manuel Cerundolo in the first round after winning seven matches all year, with a possible meeting against Jannik Sinner in the second round if he gets through. Toby Samuel is set for his first grand slam appearance against Alex de Minaur, while Katie Boulter will face wild card Akasha Urhobo and Fran Jones will meet Beatriz Haddad Maia.
For Raducanu, the immediate question is not ranking points or long-term momentum. It is whether one solid performance in Strasbourg was the first sign that the illness has finally loosened its grip, or only a brief pause before a far sterner test against Solana Sierra on clay.
