French Open: Raducanu unbowed after Swiatek thrashing, Zheng Qinwen wary of next match-up
Ex-US Open winner ‘felt a bit exposed’, while China’s Olympic champion says she will not treat her teenaged Canadian opponent lightly
Emma Raducanu admitted feeling exposed after a humbling second-round loss to defending French Open champion Iga Swiatek during her maiden appearance on Court Philippe Chatrier but the Briton said the experience had not left her demotivated.
Meanwhile, China’s Zheng Qinwen, the last woman to win a title at Roland Garros having claimed Olympic singles gold last summer, said she would not be wearing kid gloves when she faced her next opponent on Friday.
Zheng, who powered past Emiliana Arango of Colombia 6-2, 6-3 on Wednesday, will play Canadian teen sensation Victoria Mboko in the third round.
Raducanu won her maiden grand slam title as a teenager in the US Open while playing at the cavernous Arthur Ashe Stadium and has competed on the main showcourts at the Australian Open and Wimbledon in the past.
But featuring on the premier stage at Roland Garros on Wednesday proved an altogether different challenge for the 22-year-old, who also felt a bit uncomfortable during her 6-1, 6-2 defeat by four-time winner Swiatek.
“It was a really difficult match. Iga played really well. It was tough. In the beginning of the match it was pretty tight. As it went on she grew in confidence. I just felt a bit exposed,” Raducanu said.