Emma Raducanu teared up and admitted she was unable to fully process her first opening round exit at the French Open, after suffering a bagel in the first set.
It was a match that was more memorable for the catalogue of errors than impressive winners, with Raducanu losing the opening set in just 25 minutes, before rallying in the second in a 6-0, 7-6 defeat.
Raducanu looked every bit as rusty as might be expected, considering she arrived at Roland Garros having only played one tour match since March 8. She acknowledged it afterwards, saying that with only five or six weeks of practice, she was “light” on both matches and confidence, but the first set was still far below the level expected of a player who has only just dropped out of the seeded positions.
“I haven’t processed it fully,” she said. “I went on court, I felt like the conditions were extremely lively and I felt like I wasn’t able to trust my shots in that and didn’t feel like I had control over the ball.”
Raducanu made 15 unforced errors while delivering no winners as she was unable to win a game in a set that hardly lasted long enough for fans to take their seats, while Sierra made a blistering start. In fact, Raducanu only won 11 points in the first set, despite her Argentine opponent only hitting 35 per cent of her first serves.
“The first set happened super quickly, and it’s not a nice feeling, you know, when the points and the games are going, like, very, very fast,” Raducanu said. “I’m glad at least in the second set I was able to get a few games on the board.”
The second set was a marked improvement, and the British No 1 rallied from 4-1 down rather than capitulating entirely, as she has done previously when facing a similar scoreline. While Sierra might not be the same calibre as Amanda Anisimova, Elena Rybakina or Iga Swiatek, who have been at the other end of the court on those occasions, it is worth noting that this is only her second match in more than two months and on her least favoured surface.
Her unforced error count remained high, as she hit 27 in the second set, but Raducanu also hit 15 winners and took six out of nine break points.
It was a dogged effort to drag herself back into the match on two occasions, at 4-1 down in the second set and then again at 5-1 down in the tie-break to give herself a chance at 4-5.
It has been a difficult season overall for Raducanu, who missed more than two months citing the after-effects of a viral illness she contracted playing in Cluj in November. While the majority of that has cleared, she was noticeably coughing into her towel at one point during the opening round match in Paris.
It was when the question was put to her about the number of injury and illness setbacks she faced and the mindset needed to continue that Raducanu became emotional and, with tears in her eyes, said: “It’s very difficult. I think you need a lot of resilience. I think I’m trying my best each day, and I think that’s all I can ask of myself.”
On the court next to Raducanu, her friend and compatriot Francesca Jones was in tears of joy after reaching the second round of a grand slam for the first time in her career.
Jones has had a difficult 2026, after breaking into the top 100 for the first time in her career last year, suffering a hip injury and then a concussion that has affected her season.
“Normally I’m one to say you shouldn’t cry until the tournament is over, but I think everything I’ve been through this year, it’s been really challenging,” she said.
Her father Simon, said: “She’s such a fighter. She always has been.”
On her preferred surface and in her sixth grand slam main draw, Jones toiled in the heat for two hours and 39 minutes, coming back after losing the opening set 6-1 to beat Beatriz Haddad Maia 1-6, 7-6, 6-2.
When the final point was won, Jones let the emotions out before running over to hug her parents, who have been her biggest supporters since she moved from West Yorkshire to Barcelona before the age of 10 to pursue her tennis career. The move came after doctors told her that she would be unable to play tennis because of her condition, ectrodactyly-ectodermal dysplasia-cleft (EEC). A rare genetic condition affecting her hands and feet, it meant that she was born with six fingers and seven toes as well as a cleft palate.
However, that has never held her back, and now she has a place in the second round to face Marie Bouzkova.
Raducanu 0-6, 6-7 (4-7) Sierra - Tiebreak
Link copied to clipboard
Raducanu takes the first point of the tie break, but Sierra levels with the first point on her serve. 1-1.
Sierra holds a 2-1 lead at the change of serve, which is then extended to 3-1, and then 4-1 with a winner return from Raducanu’s second serve.
Sierra then hits a backhand down the line to go 5-1 up and within touching distance of the second round.
But Raducanu wins back a point after one of the longest rallies of the match, sending Sierra the wrong way before unleashing a backhand winner 5-2.
She then wins the next point, 5-3, and then 5-4 at the change of serve.
Sierra then carves out two match points with a forehand winner, and seals it with a backhand, 7-4.
Game, set, match.
Raducanu 0-6, 6-6 Sierra*
Link copied to clipboard
Raducanu goes ahead in Sierra’s service game, and then that advantage is magnified by a double fault, 0-30.
But again she goes too long, and it’s 15-30, but Raducanu carves out two break points, and takes the first one, this set is headed for a tie break.
Raducanu* 0-6, 5-6 Sierra
Link copied to clipboard
After breaking back, it’s Sierra who takes the first point of Raducanu’s service game, 0-15, but she levels with a wide serve to the backhand that the Argentinian cannot return.
But then Raducanu follows that up with a double fault. 15-30, then Sierra misses a backhand, 30-30.
Sierra has break point, but Raducanu saves it after sending her opponent running across the baseline for an entire rally.
Then Raducanu is made to wait for people to find their seat who were in her eyeline, before Sierra finds another winner and with it another break point.
But Raducanu saves that one as well, before missing a backhand to give Sierra another chance to break, then misses going for the tramlines with an open court to aim at. Sierra breaks again.
Raducanu 0-6, 5-5 Sierra*
Link copied to clipboard
Sierra has the chance to serve out for the match, and takes the first point, then Raducanu finds the net again and it’s 30-0.
But Raducanu finds an astonishing winner down the line to stay in the game, 30-15, and this time plays an astonishing cross court drop shot winner after being brought to the net. 30-30.
Raducanu has a chance to break and stay in the match here after Sierra hits the ball long, 30-40, but misses a backhand down the line and the game goes to deuce.
She carves out another break point after coming to the net and playing a winning volley, and breaks back!
Raducanu* 0-6, 4-5 Sierra
Link copied to clipboard
Raducanu delivers a wide ace to go 15-0 ahead, but Sierra quickly drags it back to 15-15.
She sets up the big backhand winning chance, but it goes just long, 15-30.
Raducanu doesn’t often come to the net, but it works for her now, she sets up the chance and makes it level again at 30 all.
Then follows it up with another wide ace to go 40-30 ahead, and goes on to hold.
Raducanu 0-6, 3-5 Sierra*
Link copied to clipboard
Raducanu takes the first point on Sierra’s service game and does a small fist pump, but it’s quickly level at 15-15.
Raducanu looks a little more lively in this game so far, and then misses a forehand, finding only the net. 30-30.
But Sierra serves down the middle and sets up the winner, 40-30, but Raducanu takes the game to deuce.
Raducanu does well to take the game to deuce but looks exasperated as another forehand goes into the net to give Sierra the advantage, and then Raducanu misses.
Raducanu* 0-6, 3-4 Sierra
Link copied to clipboard
Raducanu loses the first point of her service game, 0-15, but it’s quickly level when Sierra finds the tramlines.
Sierra goes for a dropshot and this time she misses, Raducanu has a 40-15 lead.
Sierra wins the next point, 40-30, but Raducanu holds.
Raducanu 0-6, 2-4 Sierra*
Link copied to clipboard
Sierra takes a 30-0 lead before making a mistake, and going for a winner but instead finding the tramlines, 30-15.
Raducanu is able to send Sierra running across the baseline, 30-30, but cannot capitalise as Sierra finds yet another winner with ease.
Raducanu takes control of the point and takes the game to deuce, but Sierra takes the advantage.
After another deuce, Raducanu takes the advantage, before Sierra saves it with a drop shot, but she carves out another, and she breaks.
Raducanu* 0-6, 1-4 Sierra
Link copied to clipboard
This is almost make or break for Raducanu to have a chance of staying in the match, Sierra returns her second serve into the net, 15-0.
And another mistake from Sierra takes her to a 30-0 lead, but then the ball just drifts into the tramlines, 30-15.
Sierra sends Raducanu running from side to side and then to the net before setting up the winner, 30-30.
Raducanu hits another ball just out, and faces another break point, 30-40, but she manages to save it.
Sierra carves out another advantage and her second break point of the game, and that’s all she needs.
Raducanu 0-6, 1-3 Sierra*
Link copied to clipboard
Sierra makes the mistake at the start of the game, but Raducanu misses the return, 15-15.
Raducanu misses another backhand, sending it into the net, and Sierra finds herself 40-15 up.
But then it’s Sierra’s turn to make a mistake, before she goes on to hold.
Raducanu* 0-6, 1-2 Sierra
Link copied to clipboard
Sierra swings for the hip and catches the tramline, Raducanu calls the umpire over to take another look, but the ball was good, 0-15.
Raducanu double faults and finds herself in trouble again at 0-30, but recovers with a wide ace.
Another double fault, and Sierra has two break points at 15-40, but she saves one with a kick serve that Sierra fires into the net.
Raducanu saves the second with her most emphatic point so far, hitting a high forehand winner to take the game to deuce.
But Sierra siezes on a looped ball and carves out yet another break point, back to deuce with a long forehand.
She creates another chance with a deft drop-shot, and Raducanu misses again going for a winner and is broken.
Raducanu 0-6, 1-1 Sierra*
Link copied to clipboard
Raducanu has found a slightly different level now, on that occasion she went for the winner and found it.
But she makes another unforced error and it’s 15-15. There have not been many long rallies and this game is another prime example, before Sierra mixes it up with a drop shot winner to take a 40-15 lead.
Sierra sends a forehand long, most of her mistakes seem to come on that side, and it’s 40-30, another ball into the net and the game is headed for deuce.
But Sierra closes it out with a winning backhand.
Raducanu* 0-6, 1-0 Sierra
Link copied to clipboard
Raducanu went off court between the sets, can she find something to turn this around? The stats at this point make for a grim reading.
She loses the first point at 0-15 after hitting a forehand into the net, but rallies to send Sierra running around the court, 15-15.
At 30-30 Raducanu ran over to change her racket, and has a chance to hold at the start of the second set after Sierra sends a return into the net.
Raducanu gets on the board.
SET: Raducanu 0-6 Sierra*
Link copied to clipboard
Sierra takes the lead while serving out for the set with a second serve that Raducanu hits into the net.
A double fault from Sierra gives Raducanu a chance to get back into the game, although the set has all but gone at this point.
Sierra takes two set points at 40-15, and wraps up the set, Raducanu has been bageled in the opening set in just 25 minutes.
Raducaun* 0-5 Sierra
Link copied to clipboard
Raducanu has not quite found her length and rhythm yet, she is either hitting too short or too long and she does so again at 0-15.
But Sierra does the same to make it 15-15, another shot into the net from Raducanu and it’s 15-30.
She sends a forehand into the tramlines and finds herself a the wrong end of two break points.
She saves the first with a good serve that Sierra can only hit into the net, but cannot save the next.
This first set is racing along, the match has not even been going for 20 minutes.
Raducanu 0-4 Sierra*
Link copied to clipboard
After the first three games, Raducaun has only won four points in total, and not come close to winning a game.
Just as I write that out though, she wins the first point of the game on Sierra’s serve with a ball that just touched the line.
Another point for Raducanu and it’s 0-30, but Sierra fires a serve out wide that she cannot get on top of, and a winning backhand levels the game at 30-30.
Sierra fights back to go 40-30 up, but a forehand into the net sends the game to deuce, and the next one is much the same story, it bounces so low on the net that it almost lands before it.
Raducanu has break point and goes for the ball down the line but it goes straight into the tramlines, and another hit long gives Sierra game point, which she takes when the Briton hits the net.
Raducanu* 0-3 Sierra
Link copied to clipboard
Raducanu’s second service game does not start to plan either, and she hits the ball long twice to find herself 0-30.
Another loose shot, this time a forehand halfway up the net, 0-40, another second serve pounced on by Sierra, and Raducanu is broken to love.
Raducanu 0-2 Sierra*
Link copied to clipboard
Sierra has come out of the blocks firing, and with a forehand winner, carves out a 30-0 lead in her first service game.
Raducanu cannot get under a backhand properly and it’s 40-0, but the Briton gets on the scoreboard in the game when Sierra hits a ball into the net.
Sierra then takes the game with a powerful forehand down the line.
Raducanu* 0-1 Sierra (* denotes server)
Link copied to clipboard
Raducanu is serving fist, and quickly finds herself facing two break points at 15-40.
Sierra then fires back a wild return to a first serve, and Raducanu saves the first, another return long and she saves the second.
But after it goes to deuce, she is broken in the opening game.
Emma Raducanu at the French Open
Link copied to clipboard
Emma Raducanu has only played the French Open twice before, missing both 2023 and 2024 through injury, and has yet to go past the second round.
In 2025 she was knocked out by Iga Swiatek, and in 2022 she beat Linda Noskova, then lost to Aliaksandra Sasnovich in the second.
Emma Raducanu: I use ChatGPT a lot but picking next coach was my own decision
Link copied to clipboard
Emma Raducanu may rely on ChatGPT to answer questions about art and history but when it came to reappointing Andrew Richardson as her coach, she seized the initiative.
It did not come about in the most orthodox fashion. Instead of calls with agents and contracts, Raducanu sent a leading “heyyy” text message to the coach who led her to US Open victory in 2021.
“After I had a break because I got sick, I wanted to come back in a really authentic way,” she explained.
To read the full article, click here.
Emma Raducanu vs Solana Sierra
Link copied to clipboard
Emma Raducanu will play in only her second tournament since March when she takes to the court against Solana Sierra in the first round of Roland Garros.
She took a break of more than two months from the tour citing the after-effects of a viral illness first contracted at the Cluj open in February.
In the interim period she travelled to the small Ferrer Academy in rural Spain to train again with Andrew Richardson, who was the coach when she won the US Open in 2021.
Richardson, 52, was known during his playing days for the left-handed serve that he bashed down, using his 6ft 7in frame to achieve intimidating pace and bounce. He is certainly an imposing figure on the practice court, and fits in well with Raducanu, who is known to place greater trust in those she knew before she lifted the trophy at Flushing Meadows, like Nick Cavaday and Mark Petchey.
Since then the pair have reunited on a deal planned to last until the end of the year, alongside fitness coach Emma Stewart and long-time mentor Jane O’Donoghue.
Sierra is an Argentinian ranked 68th in the world who has enjoyed a rich run of form on clay, reaching the fourth round in Madrid and the third in Rome, while Raducanu has played just one competitive match on the surface, last week in Strasbourg.