On a sun-drenched morning at Roland Garros, Emma Raducanu, Britain’s 2021 US Open champion, battled through more than just her opponent in her first-round match at the 2025 French Open. Facing China’s Wang Xinyu on Court 8, the 22-year-old world No. 41 fought off illness and lingering back issues to secure a gritty 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 victory on May 26, setting up a blockbuster second-round clash with four-time champion Iga Swiatek. However, it was Raducanu’s visible discomfort—marked by a medical timeout and what commentators called a “strange” issue with her physical condition—that raised concerns. “She doesn’t look right,” noted observers as she dabbed ice on her face and had her blood pressure checked, highlighting the physical and mental toll of her two-hour, 44-minute marathon, the joint-longest clay match of her career.
Raducanu’s struggle was evident early. Despite a strong start, breaking Wang to lead 4-2 in the first set, she faltered at 6-5, calling for the doctor after appearing dazed. “I woke up and I felt really sick,” she admitted post-match. “To have come through that and overcome how I was feeling, I’m really happy with it.” After eating a banana to boost her energy and receiving medical attention, she served out the set 7-5. Wang, ranked No. 43, fought back fiercely, capitalizing on a disputed line call to level the match at 4-6 in the second set, fueled by 54 unforced errors from both players. “I was just fighting through. It was really difficult,” Raducanu said, noting the sickness persisted throughout. In the decisive third set, she regrouped, breaking Wang for the 17th time in the match to clinch a 6-3 win, dropping her racket in weary relief.
The match was overshadowed by Raducanu’s health struggles, compounded by a recent back spasm from her Strasbourg Open loss to Danielle Collins. “It’s not feeling 100%,” she said of her back, explaining her use of dry needling and heat therapy despite a phobia of needles. “I feel like this one I kind of caught before it fully locked up.” Her resilience shone through, as she won her fourth deciding set of the season, a testament to her growing mental fortitude. “I have had a lot more three-set matches this year and come out successful more than in the past, which gives me more confidence,” she noted, crediting her recent match volume for keeping her competitive.
Raducanu’s clay-court journey has been a work in progress. After skipping Roland Garros in 2024 to focus on fitness, her 2025 season showed promise with a Madrid Open win over Suzan Lamens and a Rome fourth-round run, though losses to top players like Coco Gauff underscored the gap to the elite. Her Strasbourg setback, where she took a 10-minute medical timeout for her back, had sparked doubts about her French Open participation. “I’ve been on the practice court last night and this morning. It felt OK, but obviously it’s different playing a match,” she said, highlighting the challenge of transitioning from practice to competition intensity.
Now, Raducanu faces a daunting task against Swiatek, who cruised past Rebecca Sramkova 6-3, 6-3. “I think it’s a match for me where I can really test and challenge myself,” Raducanu said, embracing the opportunity to face the clay-court queen. “She’s won it four times. I need to hit the ball.” Their previous meeting at the 2025 Australian Open ended in a 6-1, 6-0 rout, but Raducanu’s improved clay movement and aggressive forehand could make this clash more competitive. With British players like Katie Boulter and Jacob Fearnley also advancing, Raducanu’s gritty win, despite looking “not right,” signals her determination to bridge the gap to the top, even as her body tests her resolve.
# Raducanu’s Gritty French Open Win Marred by Health Scare
Emma Raducanu, Britain’s 2021 US Open champion, overcame illness and a lingering back issue to defeat China’s Wang Xinyu 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 in the French Open first round on May 26, 2025. The 22-year-old’s two-hour, 44-minute battle on Court 8 set up a second-round clash with Iga Swiatek, but her visible discomfort raised alarms.
## A Challenging Match
Leading 4-2, Raducanu called for a doctor at 6-5 in the first set, dabbing ice on her face as commentators noted, “She doesn’t look right.” She said: “I woke up and I felt really sick. To have come through that and overcome how I was feeling, I’m really happy with it.” After winning the first set 7-5, Wang leveled the match 4-6, fueled by a disputed line call. Raducanu clinched the third set 6-3, breaking Wang for the 17th time. “I was just fighting through. It was really difficult,” she added.
## Health Struggles
A back spasm from her Strasbourg loss to Danielle Collins lingered. “It’s not feeling 100%,” Raducanu admitted, noting dry needling helped: “I feel like this one I kind of caught before it fully locked up.” Her phobia of needles made treatment challenging, but she persevered, saying: “I’ve been on the practice court last night and this morning. It felt OK, but obviously it’s different playing a match.”
## Growing Resilience
Raducanu’s fourth deciding-set win of 2025 showcased her grit. “I have had a lot more three-set matches this year and come out successful more than in the past, which gives me more confidence,” she said. Her clay season, including a Rome fourth-round run, reflects progress despite a loss to Coco Gauff.
## Facing Swiatek
Raducanu relishes the Swiatek challenge: “I think it’s a match for me where I can really test and challenge myself. She’s won it four times. I need to hit the ball.” After a 6-1, 6-0 Australian Open loss, her improved clay game offers hope. Despite health scares, Raducanu’s resolve keeps her in the fight.
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