Raducanu could face early Swiatek test at French Open

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BBC Sport tennis news reporter

French Open 2025

Dates: 25 May-8 June Venue: Roland Garros, Paris

Coverage: Live radio commentaries across 5 Live Sport and BBC Sounds, plus live text commentaries on the BBC Sport website and app

Britain’s Emma Raducanu could face three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek in the second round of the French Open.

The 22-year-old, who was thrashed by Swiatek at January’s Australian Open, must first beat China’s Wang Xinyu in Paris.

British men’s number one Jack Draper plays Italy’s Mattia Bellucci in his opening match, with top-ranked Jannik Sinner a potential quarter-final opponent.

Italy’s Sinner, who has recently returned from a three-month doping ban, will start against France’s Arthur Rinderknech.

Defending men’s champion Carlos Alcaraz opens his title defence against Japan’s former world number four Kei Nishikori.

Novak Djokovic, who is aiming for a standalone record 25th Grand Slam, has been pitted against American Mackenzie McDonald.

The Serb great, who turned 38 on Thursday, has German third seed Alexander Zverev and Russian 11th seed Daniil Medvedev in his quarter of the draw.

The draw was conducted at Roland Garros on Thursday, with France and Paris St-Germain footballer Ousmane Dembele picking out the names, before the clay-court Grand Slam begins on Sunday.

Swiatek, who has dominated the women’s singles draw in recent years, comes into the clay-court major in uncertain form.

Having not won a tournament this year the 23-year-olds reign as the ‘Queen of Clay’ is under threat.

The Pole has dropped to fifth in the world and her lower seeding means she could face the leading players earlier than usual.

All eyes were on which quarter Swiatek would land in, with Italian fourth seed Jasmine Paolini – who Swiatek beat in last year’s final – her potential last-eight opponent.

To get that far, though, she might have to see off Raducanu and 11th seed Elena Rybakina – another former Grand Slam champion – in the fourth round.

The other British players in the men’s singles have landed eye-catching draws.

Jacob Fearnley’s rapid rise continues with a French Open debut against 40-year-old three-time major champion Wawrinka, who won the Roland Garros title in 2015.

Cameron Norrie has been given a rematch against Russia’s Medvedev after the former world number one beat the Briton recently in Rome.

British number one Katie Boulter starts against a qualifier as the 28-year-old aims to finally land her first Roland Garros main-draw win.

She warmed up by winning a WTA 125 title in Paris last week.

Sonay Kartal is playing in the main draw for the first time, having climbed more than 200 places in the rankings, and opens against Erika Andreeva of Russia.

If she wins her first two matches, 23-year-old Kartal could again face Coco Gauff – who beat her in the Wimbledon second round last year.

Jodie Burrage faces a tough test against big-hitting former world number seven Danielle Collins.

Men’s singles

Women’s singles

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