Raducanu could face early Swiatek test at French Open

French Open 2025

Dates: 25 May-8 June Venue: Roland Garros, Paris

Britain’s Emma Raducanu could face three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek in the second round of the French Open.

The 22-year-old, who was thrashed by Swiatek at January’s Australian Open, must first beat China’s Wang Xinyu in Paris.

British men’s number one Jack Draper plays Italy’s Mattia Bellucci in his opening match, with top-ranked Jannik Sinner a potential quarter-final opponent.

Italy’s Sinner, who has recently returned from a three-month doping ban, will start against France’s Arthur Rinderknech.

Defending men’s champion Carlos Alcaraz opens against Japan’s former world number four Kei Nishikori.

Novak Djokovic, who is aiming for a standalone record 25th Grand Slam, has been pitted against American Mackenzie McDonald.

Swiatek has dominated the women’s singles with four titles in the past five years, but comes into the clay-court major in uncertain form.

The Pole has not won a tournament this year and has dropped to fifth in the world – meaning she could face the leading players earlier than usual.

All eyes were on which quarter Swiatek would land in, with Italian fourth seed Jasmine Paolini – who Swiatek beat in last year’s final – her potential last-eight opponent.

To get that far, though, she might have to see off Raducanu and 11th seed Elena Rybakina – another former Grand Slam champion – in the fourth round.

Djokovic, perhaps not surprising as age catches him up, has also been well below his best.

He lost three matches in a row to start the clay swing and ended the coaching partnership with Andy Murray last week.

His draw could have been much worse in Paris.

The other British players in the men’s singles have landed eye-catching draws.

Jacob Fearnley’s rapid rise continues with a French Open debut against 40-year-old three-time major champion Wawrinka, who won the Roland Garros title in 2015.

Cameron Norrie has been given a rematch against Russia’s Medvedev after the former world number one beat the Briton recently in Rome.

In the women’s singles, British number one Katie Boulter starts against a qualifier as the 28-year-old aims to finally land her first Roland Garros main-draw win.

She warmed up by winning a WTA 125 title in Paris last week.

Sonay Kartal is playing in the main draw for the first time, having climbed more than 200 places in the rankings over the past year, and opens against Erika Andreeva of Russia.

If she wins her first two matches, 23-year-old Kartal could again face Coco Gauff – who beat her in the Wimbledon second round last year.

The first part of the European clay-court swing has been encouraging for the leading British players – now the real test of their credentials is about to begin.

Although Raducanu has made positive steps over recent months, she still does not feel totally at ease on clay.

Does she have enough natural movement and quality to cause a shock if she meets Swiatek? You would think not – even if the four-time champion has been below her best.

Draper, beaten in the first round last year, has become a genuine force on clay.

Reaching the Madrid final and Rome quarter-finals illustrated his rising stock, but the fifth seed has been handed a tough draw.

If he comes through against Bellucci – a creative left-hander trying to crack the top 50 – a host of bigger names are lurking down the line.

Men’s singles

Full draw

Women’s singles