Raducanu could meet defending champion Swiatek in round two while Jack Draper opens against Mattia Bellucci
The French Open draw has been revealed as anticipation builds for the second grand slam of the season at Roland Garros.
Emma Raducanu could face defending champion Iga Swiatek in a blockbuster round two match. Raducanu has shown impressive form on the clay this season, and will play China’s Wang Xinyu in her opening match, but would face four-time champion Swiatek if both players win in round one.
Swiatek arrives at Roland Garros as the fifth seed after a difficult run of form, so if ever there was a time to play the ‘Queen of Clay’ early on it could be now. The former World No 1 has not reached a final, let alone won a title, since defeating Jasmine Paolini to win a fourth French Open last year.
Speaking of, Swiatek could face Paolini in the quarter-finals this year, with World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka and Olympic champion Qinwen Zheng also in the top half of the draw. Britain’s Katie Boulter starts against a qualifier and could play Australian Open winner Madison Keys in the second round, while Jodie Burrage opens against Danielle Collins.
Britain’s Jack Draper arrives at a career-high ranking of fifth in the world after reaching the Madrid final, as he now targets a first win in Paris. Draper will play Mattia Bellucci in round one and has landed in the same quarter as World No 1 Jannik Sinner. Elsewhere, Jacob Fearnley will play Stan Wawrinka and Cameron Norrie meets Daniil Medvedev.
French Open draw takeaways
The defending champion and ‘Queen of Clay’ has not won a title since winning her fourth Roland Garros last year, and dropped to fifth seed ahead of the draw. A difficult draw was possible, but Swiatek’s path to a fifth French Open looks even tougher than expected.
After opening against Rebecca Sramkova, Swiatek could face Emma Raducanu in round two. The former US Open champion still has work to do on clay, but has shown improved form on the surface this year and could be dangerous.
The real trouble lies further ahead, though, with former French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko, who has beaten Swiatek in all six of their meetings, a potential hurdle in the last-16.
Swiatek is also in the same quarter as last year’s runner-up Jasmine Paolini, the Italian Open champion, so there could be a rematch of their final in the quarters, with World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka and Olympic champion Qinwen Zheng also in the top half.
Speaking of, Sabalenka is probably the favourite ahead of Paris, but Zheng won their last meeting in the Madrid quarters. Meanwhile, it looks to be a very good draw for Coco Gauff, who is in the bottom half. Less so for Swiatek.