Raducanu Unfazed by Latest Swiatek Defeat
Emma Raducanu insists she remains positive and undeterred despite yet another heavy defeat to Iga Swiatek at the French Open, extending her winless record against the world number five.
The British number two suffered a straight-sets loss, 6-1, 6-2, in their second-round clash at Roland Garros, marking her fifth consecutive defeat to the Polish star — and still without winning a set.
The match once again underscored the significant gap between Raducanu, currently ranked 41st in the world, and the WTA’s top-tier players.
Speaking after the match, Raducanu acknowledged Swiatek’s relentless approach in their encounters.
“She always comes out fired up, and it puts pressure on me right from the start,” the 22-year-old explained.
“It makes me feel like I have to do something special just to stay in the rally, and then I start to doubt what to do in the moment.
That changes the rhythm of the match and she just grows in confidence.”
Raducanu started brightly, forcing a break point in the opening game, but Swiatek quickly found her rhythm, winning five straight games to dominate the first set in just 35 minutes.
Raducanu’s second serve was targeted relentlessly, and her consistency unraveled as the top seed took control.
Known as the ‘Queen of Clay,’ Swiatek, a four-time French Open champion, broke early in the second set and despite a moment of vulnerability where Raducanu had three break points, the 23-year-old held firm.
The Briton, still recovering from illness earlier in the week, faded physically and mentally in the closing stages, losing the last three games without much resistance.
“I just have to accept there are levels to this,” Raducanu admitted. “There are things I know I have to get better at — especially against the top players. But no, I’m not demotivated by it.”
Signs of Progress Amid Setbacks
Despite the lopsided result, Raducanu remains optimistic about her recent development.
After a difficult period marred by injuries and inconsistent form, she has begun to climb the rankings again, re-entering the top 50 and producing promising runs in Miami and Rome earlier this year.
Working informally with coach Mark Petchey since March, Raducanu has shown greater consistency and resilience.
However, against elite opponents like Swiatek, those gains weren’t enough to bridge the gap.
“I’ve definitely made progress since the start of the year. Maybe not in this match, but overall, I feel like I’m heading in the right direction,” she said. “There’s still a long way to go before I get to where I want to be.”
Raducanu struggled particularly with Swiatek’s depth and variation, which limited her ability to dictate rallies or find rhythm.
It echoed her recent defeat to world number two Coco Gauff in Rome, another match where she struggled to cope with the relentless pressure of top-tier play.
Her record against top-10 players — just three wins in 14 attempts — highlights the work still required to compete at the highest level consistently.
“There’s a big leap in quality when you’re facing top-five players or Grand Slam champions,” she added.
“It feels like there’s no space on the court, and you start to overhit because the pressure is always there. I know I’ve got to tighten parts of my game to close those gaps.”
Looking Ahead to Grass Season and Wimbledon
Though clay has never been her preferred surface, Raducanu refused to be disheartened by the loss.
She remained upbeat in her post-match comments, saying: “I’m not going to hide in a hole. It’s fine — I just need a few days to process this, then it’s back to work.”
Her focus now shifts to the grass-court season, with plans to compete at Queen’s Club, Berlin, and Eastbourne ahead of Wimbledon, which starts on 30 June.
After a year without playing on grass, Raducanu is keen to gain more match experience on the surface.
“I want to play more matches on grass before Wimbledon,” she said. “It’s been a year since I’ve played on it, so I need to adapt quickly. There’s not a lot of time, but I’m looking forward to it.”
Raducanu Unfazed by Latest Swiatek Defeat