Raducanu braced for Swiatek test after overcoming Wang

Battling win on good day for British players sets up clash with four-time champion

- Tumaini Carayol

Emma Raducanu will face one of the toughest challenges in tennis after setting up a French Open second-round match against the four-time champion Iga Swiatek.

Despite arriving in Paris preoccupied by her recovery from the back spasms she had experienced days earlier, Raducanu demonstrated her mental toughness in a gritty 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 win against Wang Xinyu of China, the world No 43. Swiatek, who is attempting to win an open-era-record fourth consecutive women's singles championship at Roland Garros, began her title defence with a 6-3, 6-3 win against Rebecca Sramkova.

"I think it's a match for me where I can really test and challenge myself," Raducanu said. "I think exposure to the top players is great for where I'm at for my development. I think especially on clay, it's her preferred tournament probably [and] surface. She's won it four times.

"It's a match where I can go out and test really just myself and go for my shots, because I know if I just push the ball, I'm probably going to get eaten. I need to hit the ball. I'm looking forward to that challenge."