Paris, France — Emma Ladukane feels “exposed” against Iga Swieczk in the second round defeat at the French Open, saying the margin of defeat showed her the distance between herself and the top players in the clay world.
The 22-year-old Radukanu fell 6-1, 6-2 to four-time Roland Garros champion Swaitek on Wednesday. Radkanu was one of six Brits to reach the second round of this year’s French Open, but she was handed the toughest questions possible in a match with Swiatek.
Having five grand slams in her name, who won the 2022 US Open overall, Swiatek has appeared in the tournament with an incredibly high standard, but as usual, she has found a way to lift the game once with Roland Garros, who won the final three tournaments here. This is where she has had zero losses since 2021 and has now won her name 23 times in a row in a row in this tournament.
For Raducanu, this was her first match at Court Philippe-Chatrier, a showpiece court for Roland Garros, and it was an intimidating experience.
“It was a really difficult match,” Radkanu said. “Iga played really well. Yeah, it was tough. I think she was pretty tight at the beginning of the game. I think she grew up with confidence, I felt a bit exposed.
“It was my first time playing a match in that courthouse. You feel it’s a big court. It’s different and it’s new to me. She’s obviously very comfortable and she’s played it many times.
For Raducanu, this will always be a tough match. She went through the first round match against Wang Xinyu 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, but was battling pain and illness. She suffered from back convulsions at the Strasburg Open last week and woke up on the morning of her opening match against her illness. She traveled to Roland Garros in a decent form with clay, but she was covered in sweets.
Looking back on her clay court season, Radukanu said: “I think it was positive in the sense that I won a few games on the surface. I probably had the right clay court season first and played, and the last one was 2022.
“I think I’m pretty pleased… Considering that I felt really uncomfortable at first I felt a really uncomfortable move, which made me feel better. I think I feel like certain elements of my game really need to be improved, but I don’t necessarily want to go into the details here (in front of the media) and broadcast it to everyone.
“But I think I still have a long way to go against the top of the world and I’m just emphasizing that (today).”
Radkanu, the 2021 US Open Champion, never beat the 23-year-old Swaitek before today’s clash. The last time they met, it was a dominant victory for Swiatek.
Swiatek saved his first game breakpoint and controlled the match, so this time he recreated setting his first score. She broke Radukanu twice and filmed the first set 6-1 in just 35 minutes, and found Radukanu difficult to score points.
Swiatek’s dominance showed no signs of alleviation in the early suffering of the second set, as he defeated the service of his beloved Radukanu in the third game. Radukanu forced three breakpoints in his fourth game, but was unable to take advantage of any of them as Swiatek went 3-1. Ladukanu then saved a breakpoint in the fifth time, but was unable to get Swiatek’s serve as the reigning champion who loved to go up 4-2. Swiatek then defeated Raducanu’s serve again in the seventh game, serving to pass in an hour and 19 minutes.
“I just did that because I knew what I wanted to do,” Swiatek said. “I had a great time on the court and I felt the game was pretty good so I just asked for it.”
Swiatek will face the winner of Sara Bejlek-Jaqueline Cristian in the third round on Friday. Raducanu is currently switching attention to grass court season, where she wants to carry a promising shape to Wimbledon.
“I don’t feel motivated,” Radkanu said. “Since Miami, I feel like I’ve really started building momentum compared to where I came at the beginning of the year, and I hope to go in a few days and then get on the grass.
“I’m clearly at home and feel comfortable having that environment around me. Last year I had a great season and I look forward to being in the same environment. I’m staying home and being supported by the house. I think we’re all really thriving in that environment.
