Swiatek crushes Raducanu after tough year
Paris, May 28 (UNI) Iga Swiatek silenced any doubts about her form and focus with a commanding 6-1, 6-2 demolition of Britain's Emma Raducanu on Wednesday, extending her unbeaten streak at the French Open to 23 matches and making a resounding statement after a turbulent year on and off the court.
The World No.5, playing under her lowest Grand Slam seeding since 2022, showed no signs of rust on Court Philippe-Chatrier as she delivered a performance worthy of her title as the "Queen of Clay." The dominant win comes on the back of a challenging year that included a one-month suspension for a doping violation and the personal loss of her grandfather ahead of the Madrid Masters.
Despite not having reached a final since last year's triumph in Paris, Swiatek appeared firmly in control from the outset, brushing aside the British No.2 in just 79 minutes to book her place in the third round for the seventh consecutive year.
Raducanu, currently ranked 41 in the world and making only her second French Open appearance since debuting in 2022, showed flashes of aggression early on but failed to capitalise on four break point chances. She has now lost all five meetings against Swiatek without claiming a set.
Swiatek struck 31 winners to Raducanu's eight and converted four breaks of serve while saving all break points against her. The gap in class and consistency was evident throughout, with the Polish star sealing the first set in 35 minutes with an ace and continuing to dominate the second with powerful groundstrokes and relentless pressure.
Raducanu, who missed last year's edition due to injury, now exits in the second round again, continuing her search for stability on clay.
For Swiatek, however, the win was about far more than progression to the next round — it was a reminder to the field that, despite personal trials and a recent drop in ranking, she remains the standard-bearer at Roland Garros.
With four titles already to her name in Paris, the 22-year-old looks poised for a fifth as she rediscovers the form and fire that once made her nearly untouchable on red dirt. UNI BDN SSP
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