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

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Emma Raducanu has only played twice at the French Open, reaching the second round on both occasions

ByJonathan JurejkoBBC Sport tennis news reporter in Paris

Published21 May 2026, 14:12 BST

Updated Just now

Emma 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.

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In 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.

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Alcaraz absence leaves door open for Sinner

Two-time champion Alcaraz's absence with a wrist injury has deprived Roland Garros of one of the sport's biggest stars.

It also means his absorbing rivalry with Sinner - which led to such a thrilling final in Paris last year - has been put on hold, with the pair having won the past nine Grand Slam titles between them.

Sinner, who has lifted the Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome clay-court titles as part of a 29-match winning streak, is now the overwhelming favourite to win his maiden French Open title.

At this stage it is difficult to see anybody stopping him.

Djokovic is only man other than Alcaraz who has beaten Sinner at the majors since Wimbledon in 2024.

But the 24-time major champion - who beat Sinner in the Australian Open semi-finals before losing to Alcaraz - has barely played since.

Djokovic sticks to a sparse schedule these days, believing it gives him the best shot at finally moving clear of Margaret Court in terms of all-time major wins.

Playing a huge server like Mpetshi Perricard is not ideal for his hopes of finding rhythm, although Djokovic still has more than enough quality to beat a player who has won seven of his 10 tour-level matches on clay.

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Can 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 Parry.

It will be interesting to see what 23-year-old Raducanu's expectations at Roland Garros are.

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.

If Richardson returning is going to spark a revival in Raducanu's career it would likely not happen over the next fortnight, given her lack of match fitness and a tricky draw.

French Open

Sunday, 24 May - Sunday, 7 June

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