Raducanu is one step closer to making the French Open main draw directly but still far away.
Emma Raducanu is now a step closer to reaching the French Open main draw directly as the 20-year-old Briton is now third on the alternates list after Julia Grabher pulled out of the upcoming Grand Slam tournament.
Raducanu, who is currently ranked at No. 212 in the world, has a protected ranking of No. 103 to use after returning to tennis earlier this year following three successful surgeries. But the ranking of No. 103 wasn’t enough for Raducanu to make the French Open cut-off as the 2021 US Open champion needed a wildcard or a couple of player withdrawals to make the main draw directly.
Initially, there wasn’t much concern about Raducanu not making the French Open cut-off since the general belief and expectation was that she would receive a main draw wildcard. But after the French Open wildcard selection was announced at the start of this week, the former world No. 10 wasn’t on the list.
After Raducanu was snubbed for a wildcard, it was clear that she would either need to play in the qualifying or wait and hope there would be enough player withdrawals for her to make the main draw directly.
Will Raducanu make the French Open main draw directly?
Since the French Open qualifying is starting on Monday, Raducanu needs three more player withdrawals to happen over the weekend. If that doesn’t happen – which probably won’t – Raducanu will have to play the qualifying and try to earn a main draw spot that way.
Next week, Raducanu was slated to play in a WTA 500 tournament in Strasbourg but she pulled out of the tournament. That move was a big indication that Raducanu was shifting her focus to the French Open qualifying.
Meanwhile, Raducanu has a 2-2 record this clay season as she reached the Stuttgart quarterfinal before losing in the Madrid Open first round. After Stuttgart and Madrid, Raducanu was also hoping to play in Rome but didn’t get a wildcard there.
Now, Raducanu’s next action will likely come at Roland Garros next week in the French Open qualifying event.