British No.1 Emma Raducanu suffered a shock opening‑round defeat at Roland Garros, losing to Argentina’s Solana Sierra 6-0 7-6 (4). Raducanu failed to register a single winner and committed 15 unforced errors in the first set, then rallied to force a tie‑break before falling short. The Briton appeared out of sync, citing lively conditions and a lack of confidence as factors. She also struggled with footwork, often chasing balls out of position.

Raducanu entered Paris after a two‑and‑a‑half‑month layoff, having played only one match since a post‑viral illness left her with a lingering cough. She reunited with US Open‑winning coach Andrew Richardson but admitted she was “light on confidence” and struggled to trust her shots on the fast clay. Her 42 unforced errors underscored the rust. Limited match practice left her timing off today.

Despite the loss, Raducanu plans to shift focus to the grass‑court swing, targeting the Queen’s Club event in June. Former champion Mats Wilander praised her movement and mental toughness, suggesting big things lie ahead if she stabilises her game and maintains a consistent coaching relationship. The defeat highlights the challenges of returning from a prolonged absence significantly.