Emma Raducanu thrashed by Swiatek at French Open before ‘cold’ exchange | Tennis | Sport

Iga Swiatek found her old French Open form to outclass Emma Raducanu for the loss of only three games. The Queen of Clay is playing with her lowest seeding at a Slam since the 2022 Australian Open after failing to reach a final since here last year. The Pole was banned for a month last year for testing positive for a banned substance and lost her grandfather before the Madrid Masters.

But the four-time champion showed she is still a contender here by extending her French Open winning streak to 23 matches with a ruthless 6-1 6-2 win over the British No.2 in 79 minutes. It was a predictable defeat for Raducanu against the world No.5. After missing 2023 through injury and choosing not to play qualifiers last year, Raducanu has won two matches in her two Roland Garros appearances since her 2022 debut.

And she has now lost all five matches against the former world No.1 without winning a set. Anything short from Raducanu was dispatched as Swiatek hit 31 winners against eight by the world No.41. The British No.2 failed to take any of her four break points.

The gap between them is wider than the Champs-Elysees. Her part-time coach Mark Petchey was in her player box in Court Philippe-Chatrier today after missing her opening win because he was on TV duty.

The former British No.1 told TNT Sports before the Swiatek match he had added weight to her racquet and changed her service action. “I think that everybody needs to understand that Emma, at this stage of her career, despite what she’s already achieved, has some work ahead of her to be the best player that she can be,” he said.

Raducanu gave a first shout of: ‘C’mon on’ when she nailed a forehand winner in the opening game – and had a break point a point later after a Polish double fault before she held.

The first break came after 21 minutes for Swiatek as Raducanu cracked under the relentless pressure of her groundstrokes. First she framed a forehand and slapped a backhand into the net on break point.

The No.5 seed set up two more break points at 1-4 with a blistering backhand which hit the line – and was gifted the second when the British No.2 carved an overhead into the sidelines.

Swiatek sealed the first set in 35 minutes with her first ace. When she held her opening serve in the second set, she had already won more games than her Australian Open defeat in January.

The first break in the second set came in the third game when Raducanu’s drive volley was straight at Swiatek and allowed the Pole to unleash a big forehand the British No.2 at the net. Raducanu could only pop a volley into the net and the No.5 put away a forehand winner to lead 2-1.

Swiatek then saved three break points in the next game as Raducanu was unable to come up with big shots on the big points. The fourth and final break of Raducanu came when the Pole hit a superb service return on her third break to lead 5-2.

Raducanu saved the first match point with a forehand return winner. But Swiatek reached the third round here for the seventh consecutive time on the next point with a backhand winner down the line.

Swiatek said: “I felt I could do whatever I planned to.”

Asked why she plays so well here, she replied: “Probably the top spin that I play. And I just love playing here. It inspires me and makes me work hard. And having time off will help me a bit. I am ready to fight for it.”

BBC 5 Live commentator Annabel Croft said: “That was quite a cold handshake. There was no warmth there between the two players. It was quite dismissive, almost just a handshake and then a walk off. Once Iga Swiatek got a breakthrough in this match, she just stamped her authority on it.”