As the 2025 French Open looms, Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, is once again in the spotlight, with former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki offering a glowing assessment of her potential. The 22-year-old Brit, now ranked No. 43, has shown promising signs on clay this season, and Wozniacki’s verdict on her “ceiling” has ignited excitement about what Raducanu could achieve at Roland Garros, which begins on May 25. With a challenging first-round match against China’s Wang Xinyu and a possible second-round clash with four-time champion Iga Swiatek, Raducanu’s journey in Paris is set to test her resilience and burgeoning clay-court prowess. Wozniacki’s endorsement, combined with Raducanu’s recent performances, paints a picture of a player on the cusp of another Grand Slam breakthrough.
Raducanu’s 2021 US Open triumph, where she became the first qualifier to win a major without dropping a set, remains one of tennis’s most remarkable feats. At just 18, she stormed through New York, defeating Leylah Fernandez in the final and etching her name in history as the first British woman to win a singles major since Virginia Wade in 1977. However, the years since have been a rollercoaster, with injuries to her wrists and ankle sidelining her for much of 2023 and prompting her to skip the French Open last year to focus on grass courts. “It’s not an easy first round, playing someone a bit younger and dangerous, and in good form, so I’m really proud of how I competed today,” Raducanu said after a recent win, reflecting her growing confidence. Her 2025 season, though rocky at times with early exits in Singapore, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar, has gained momentum, particularly on clay.
This season, Raducanu has embraced the red dirt with newfound assurance, guided by coach Mark Petchey, who previously worked with Andy Murray. Her clay campaign kicked off with a win over Susan Lamens in Madrid, followed by a spirited second-round loss to Marta Kostyuk. In Rome, she achieved a career-best three consecutive clay-court wins, defeating Jil Teichmann and Veronika Kudermetova before falling to Coco Gauff in the last 16. “I think I got very boxed in to a certain way of playing, which was aggressive. I dominate, I’m an aggressive baseliner, but I think I have more tools at my disposal,” Raducanu said in Rome, highlighting her evolving game, which now incorporates slices and drop shots. Her latest triumph came in Strasbourg, where she dominated former world No. 8 Daria Kasatkina 6-1, 6-3, a victory she described as one of her proudest: “I’m really proud of my performance. How I came out and was really aggressive and also how I managed to maintain my focus in the second set, when it was getting close.”
Wozniacki, the 2018 Australian Open champion, sees immense potential in Raducanu. Speaking at a promotional event, she said, “I mean, it’s hard to say. Can she stay healthy – is I think the main thing. I think she’s really going in the right direction, I think she’s moving her way up.” Wozniacki acknowledged the challenges of a tough draw, noting, “She’s proven she can beat great players, but it’s not easy if you get a really tough draw and have to beat seeded after seeded player to reach far.” However, she emphasized Raducanu’s proven ability to rise to the occasion: “She’s proven that she can win the US Open, and if you can do it once, you can do it again. It’s just a matter of putting it together for seven straight matches.” Wozniacki’s optimism is tempered by realism, as she added, “I guess we’ll just have to wait and see if that’s gonna happen and when that’s gonna happen. But either way, being as young as she is and already having a Grand Slam under her belt is a great feat.”
Raducanu’s French Open campaign faces immediate hurdles. Her first-round opponent, Wang Xinyu, defeated her in their only prior meeting in 2021, a grueling 6-1, 6-7(0), 7-5 battle in Linz. A potential second-round matchup with Swiatek, who has dominated clay, looms large. Despite a back injury scare during a 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 loss to Danielle Collins in Strasbourg, Raducanu remains upbeat, saying, “I was standing up because I didn’t want to sit down in the third set because of my back. I was standing as it was a bit more comfortable.” Her recent clay success, including a 66.7% service game win rate and a 41.8% return game win rate, suggests she’s adapting to the surface. As she prepares for Paris, Raducanu’s blend of creativity, aggression, and resilience—backed by Wozniacki’s confidence—positions her as a dark horse capable of defying expectations once more.
# Emma Raducanu’s French Open Prospects: Wozniacki’s High Praise
Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, has received a glowing endorsement from former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki ahead of the 2025 French Open, starting May 25. Ranked No. 43, Raducanu has shown promising clay-court form, prompting Wozniacki to say, “She’s proven that she can win the US Open, and if you can do it once, you can do it again. It’s just a matter of putting it together for seven straight matches.” Wozniacki cautioned, “Can she stay healthy – is I think the main thing,” noting Raducanu’s injury challenges but adding, “I think she’s really going in the right direction.”
Raducanu’s 2025 clay season includes a win over Susan Lamens in Madrid, three consecutive victories in Rome, and a 6-1, 6-3 rout of Daria Kasatkina in Strasbourg. “I’m really proud of my performance,” she said after Strasbourg, praising her aggression and focus. Her evolving game, with slices and drop shots, reflects her growth. “I think I have more tools at my disposal,” she said in Rome. Despite a back injury scare in a 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 loss to Danielle Collins in Strasbourg, she remained positive: “I was standing up because I didn’t want to sit down in the third set because of my back.”
Facing Wang Xinyu in the French Open first round, with a potential Iga Swiatek clash in round two, Raducanu’s draw is tough. Wozniacki noted, “It’s not easy if you get a really tough draw.” Yet, Raducanu’s 66.7% service game win rate and 41.8% return game win rate on clay, plus her 2021 US Open heroics, make her a threat. “It’s not an easy first round, playing someone a bit younger and dangerous,” she said after a recent win, signaling her readiness for Paris.
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