Swiatek dismantles Raducanu to maintain quest for fourth French Open title in a row

Just a couple of weeks after stressing the importance of playing against the best players in the world more frequently in order to improve her own game, Emma Raducanu walked out on to Court Philippe‑Chatrier on Wednesday afternoon facing the toughest challenge in her sport.

The task of playing Iga Swiatek at the French Open, her fortress, was unsurprisingly too much for Raducanu and in the second successive grand slam tournament she was dismantled by her imperious opponent, the fifth seed, who eased into the third round at Roland Garros with a 6-1, 6-2 win.

As she chases one of the greatest achievements in the open era of women’s tennis – an unprecedented fourth successive title at Roland Garros – Swiatek’s astounding record at the tournament now stands 37-2 (95%): 33 of those wins have been effortlessly earned in straight sets. After demolishing Raducanu 6-0, 6-1 in the third round of the Australian Open in January, Swiatek now holds a 5-0 record against the Briton.

Before the match, during an interview with Tim Henman for TNT Sports, Raducanu’s ad hoc coach Mark Petchey was asked what his charge would have to do well in order to defeat Swiatek. His answer was immediate and blunt: “Everything.”

The pressure that Swiatek places on her opponents to play past their limits was immediately evident on Raducanu’s serve as she went big at the very first moment. After missing a 180kmh first serve on the opening point, the same speed as her fastest first serve after nearly three hours on court in her first‑round match, Raducanu successfully landed a 158kmh second serve. The 22‑year‑old confidently navigated her first service game well, looking to impose herself with her forehand.

Those positive feelings did not last. On Swiatek’s serve, Raducanu took an advanced return position on both first and second serves as she tried to put pressure on her opponent’s second serve, an essential tactic for any player who wishes to hurt the Pole. In the end, even dealing with the topspin behind Swiatek’s second serve on the high-bouncing clay was a struggle.

View image in fullscreen Iga Swiatek was dominant in her victory over Emma Raducanu. Photograph: David Winter/Shutterstock

Although she was relatively erratic early on in tough breezy conditions, Swiatek gradually settled down and established total control of the exchanges. The 23-year-old continually forced Raducanu into defensive positions, suffocating her opponent with the weight of her heavy topspin forehand. Raducanu tried to step forward and take the ball on the rise, but Swiatek’s topspin constantly spun up high outside her strike zone and neutered her ball.

It is easy to suggest that a clear underdog should be able to swing freely and without pressure, but Swiatek has produced these dominant results against almost every single player on the tour at one time. Time and time again, she has shown that the incessant pressure she imposes on her opponents is usually enough.

Not only did she dictate the vast majority of the match from the baseline, when Raducanu tried to take control of points Swiatek soaked up the Briton’s first strike with her supreme defence. Forced to attack as early as she can and aim closer and closer to the lines, Raducanu’s errors piled up.

View image in fullscreen Emma Raducanu was unable to cope with Iga Swiatek’s shotmaking. Photograph: Christophe Ena/AP

As Raducanu neatly stated before the match, Swiatek makes her side of the court feel narrow due to her defensive skills and her opponents’ side feel wide thanks to her massive weapons. This was plain for all to see on another difficult afternoon for Raducanu, as the four-time French Open champion marched on.

Taking positives from such an emphatic defeat is difficult, but Raducanu’s progress over the past few months, both on clay courts and within her game in general, has been undeniable. She will return to the top 40, around No 37, and should head to the grass-court season confident in her abilities to make deep runs on one of her favourite surfaces.

Still, these stark defeats against the best players in the world have shown how wide the gulf remains between them and the significant work Raducanu has ahead of her to narrow it.

Elsewhere, Aryna Sabalenka, the top seed, followed the lead set by Swiatek, her great rival, with a dominant performance of her own as she eased into the third round with a 6-3, 6-1 win against Jil Teichmann.

In the men’s draw, the second seed Carlos Alcaraz continued to build momentum in his title defence as he advanced to the third round with a 6-1, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory against Fabian Marozsan.

Casper Ruud, the seventh seed and two-time French Open finalist, endured a shock 2-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-0 defeat by Nuno Borges of Portugal. Afterwards, he disclosed that he had been struggling with a knee injury for some time.

“It’s hopefully nothing too serious,” Ruud said. “For the last couple of weeks I’ve been kind of struggling a little bit with knee pain on and off. That’s why I decided to pull out of Geneva after Rome, do my best, and heal to be ready here. When you’re practicing, leading up to the tournament, it’s easier to avoid certain movements that are painful. Everything is not painful. But certain movements out there are kind of what makes it painful.”

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