Emma Raducanu has hit out at French Open organisers, after suggesting the top players are be given more time to practice on show courts in the second Grand Slam of 2025.
Raducanu beat China’s Wang Xinyu 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 in two hours and 44 minutes – the joint-longest match of her career on clay – in a match played on the tight and compact Court 8 at Roland Garros.
Even though she is a former Grand Slam champion after her memorable US Open win in 2021, Raducanu is not among the seeds at the French Open and therefore has to accept playing on the outside courts.
That is certain to change when she takes on Iga Swiatek in the second round, with the clash against the defending champion certain to be on one of the bigger courts.
That is a concern for Raducanu, after she claimed she is not getting enough time to practice on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
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“I feel like certain players get preferred treatment,” said Raducanu.
“I honestly think it’s really difficult, because the tournament don’t really help in terms of getting you court time on the bigger courts or on like the match courts, really.
“I feel like, I don’t know, certain players get preferred treatment. It’s very different from at the annex, for example, across the road or other courts to then kind of jump onto Chatrier or jump onto a stadium. It isn’t easy.
“I wish they would give us more opportunities on the stadium or bigger courts, especially if we’re going to play on them.
“That court today, it was cute, intimate. I like you can really feel the fans and their support, because sometimes on a bigger court, if it is not full, it feels a little bit empty. There you’re right in the thick of it.
There is a lot going on. There are other courts around. There’s a lot of noise. There’s music. But it was good I think for me to stay focused and really centred on the match in front of me. But yeah, it does take a little bit of just adjustment.”
Raducanu will be hoping to use the day off she has before the Swiatek clash to recover from an illness that so nearly derailed her efforts against Wang.
“I don’t feel great. It would have felt worse if I had lost. I was really struggling from the start,” added Raducanu.
“She was a tough opponent but I’m really happy to have found a way. Opening rounds are never easy. I haven’t been here for three years so it was a combination of several things.
“I knew I had to start well because it would give me the best chance to keep fighting. When I lost serve at the end it wasn’t the end of the world.
“There are positives. Like a lot of top champions in the first round, they’ve struggled but given themselves another opportunity despite how they’re feeling.
“That’s a quality that is not easy to teach. My character, heart and fight really came through today and I’m proud of that.”
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