Emma Raducanu vs. Iga Swiatek: High stakes clash at Roland Garros

Emma Raducanu is set for one of the most anticipated matchups of the early French Open rounds as she prepares to face defending champion Iga Swiatek in Paris. The British star comes into the contest riding a wave of positive momentum following an impressive clay-court season that saw her reach the fourth round in Rome and battle through a three-set victory in her Roland-Garros opener—despite battling illness.

The 2021 US Open champion overcame China’s Wang Xinyu in her French Open debut this year, showing grit, resilience, and growing adaptability on a surface that has not always suited her natural game. Her reward is a second-round meeting with world No. 5 Swiatek, a four-time French Open winner and undisputed powerhouse on clay. Despite the magnitude of the challenge, Raducanu approaches the contest with a fresh mindset and renewed physical confidence, stating that she has made “good strides” both mentally and physically in recent weeks.

Raducanu insists this will be different than Australian Open!

The two last met in January at the Australian Open, where Swiatek cruised to a 6-0, 6-1 victory in just over an hour. But Raducanu insists this encounter will be different. A year of recovery from multiple surgeries, followed by gradual returns to form, has brought about a steadier rhythm in her game. She’s eager to embrace the underdog role and test herself against the sport’s most dominant clay player of recent years.

While Swiatek remains the favorite, she hasn't enjoyed the same imperious form in 2025. The Polish star, whose three-year grip on Roland-Garros remains intact, hasn’t added to her trophy cabinet since last year’s French Open and has dropped in the WTA rankings. Though still formidable, questions linger over her consistency, offering Raducanu a glimmer of opportunity.

Tennis pundits, including former British No. 1 Tim Henman, emphasize that Raducanu should play with freedom and aggression. “There’s less pressure on her,” Henman explained. “She just needs to recover well, conserve energy, and be brave. If she brings that intensity, anything is possible.”