Raducanu exits French Open in straight sets after illness disrupts clay campaign

Emma Raducanu’s participation in the 2026 French Open concluded prematurely after she suffered a first-round defeat to Argentina’s Solana Sierra. The British player lost 6-0, 7-6 (7-4) in one hour and 45 minutes, marking an early exit from the tournament that began in Paris on 24 May under sweltering conditions with temperatures reaching 31 degrees Celsius.

Raducanu’s performance was hampered by a lack of recent clay-court experience and a disrupted season. She had played only one match on the surface this year, suffering a first-round loss at the Strasbourg Open earlier in the week. Her absence from the WTA Tour for more than two months following Indian Wells in March, due to a post-viral illness, further impacted her preparation. In contrast, Sierra, ranked world number 68, grew up playing on clay and capitalised on Raducanu’s unfamiliarity with the surface.

The disparity in form was evident in the first set, which lasted just 25 minutes. Raducanu failed to win a single game, committing 15 unforced errors to zero winners. Sierra broke serve in the opening game and extended her lead by breaking twice more to secure the bagel. Raducanu took time off court between sets before attempting a comeback in the second.

Although Raducanu fought back from a double-break deficit to level the second set at 5-5 and force a tie-break, she could not maintain her momentum. She trailed 5-1 in the tie-break but clawed back to 5-4 before her resistance faded. Sierra secured the final points to win the tie-break 7-4 and the match.

Raducanu, who won the 2021 US Open as a teenage qualifier, has only advanced beyond the third round of a major once since that victory. She will now shift her focus to the upcoming grass-court season, continuing her work with coach Andrew Richardson, who was re-hired earlier this month. Sierra will proceed to the second round to face either Italian 13th seed Jasmine Paolini or Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska.