Raducanu faces tricky start - who plays who at French Open?

Breaking news from the world of sport: Raducanu faces tricky start - who plays who at French Open? Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Emma Raducanu has only played twice at the French Open, reaching the second round on both occasionsByJonathan Jurejko Sport tennis news reporter in ParisPublished25 minutes agoEmma Raducanu has been handed a tricky first-round test at the French Open against Argentine clay-court specialist Solano Sierra. British number one Raducanu missed out on a seeding for the clay-court Grand Slam after falling to 37th in the world rankings.

The draw could have been less kind than 64th-ranked Sierra, given there was the prospect of Raducanu facing one of the world's very best. However, Italy's 2024 runner-up Jasmine Paolini potentially awaits in the second round should Raducanu beat Sierra. British number two Katie Boulter will open against American wildcard Akasha Urhobo, while Francesca Jones - the only other Briton in the women's singles - faces Brazil's 2023 semi-finalist Beatriz Haddad Maia.

Match Details

Players to cut short French Open interviews in pay row Published19 hours agoIn the men's draw, Cameron Norrie - Britain's only seeded player - will play Paraguay's Adolfo Daniel Vallejo. Jacob Fearnley faces Argentina's Juan Manuel Cerundolo with the likely prospect of world number one Jannik Sinner waiting in round two. Italy's Sinner - the overwhelming favourite for the title with rival Carlos Alcaraz out injured - starts his bid to become only the 10th man to complete the career Grand Slam against French wildcard Clement Tabur.

Three-time champion Novak Djokovic did not receive a favourable draw as he bids once again for a standalone record 25th major victory. Djokovic, who turns 39 on Friday, opens against huge-serving Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, who is now coached by former British number one Greg Rusedski. Sinner speeds into history book - and is matching the greats Published3 days agoCan rehired Richardson spark Raducanu revival?

Former US Open champion Raducanu has endured another stop-start season after picking up a virus in February, with the after-effects limiting her to only two tournaments since. Raducanu made her return in Strasbourg this week after a two-month absence, losing in straight sets to France's Diane Perry. It will be interesting to see what 23-year-old Raducanu's expectations at Roland Garros are.

Reactions and Expectations

Her performances at the Grand Slams have generally been disappointing and the limp manner in which she lost in the Australian Open second round was particularly disheartening. Shortly afterwards she parted ways with Rafael Nadal's former coach Francisco Roig and has now rehired Andrew Richardson - the man who helped her shock the world by winning the 2021 US Open as a teenage qualifier. Raducanu has only gone past the third round of a Grand Slam once since then.

The clay is not a surface she has ever felt completely comfortable on and it has also exacerbated a long-standing back issue.

The story has climbed to the top of the sports agenda, with fans and analysts following closely.