Emma could face Iga in Paris second round

BRIT ON EARLY COLLISION COURSE WITH FRENCH OPEN'S DEFENDING CHAMP

- by Eleanor Crooks, PA

EMMA Raducanu could face four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek in the second round at Roland Garros.

Swiatek has won the title for the last three years while Raducanu, who must first get past China's Wang Xinyu, has only played the tournament once before.

That was back in 2022, when she reached the second round, with the former US Open champion missing 2023 following operations on both wrists and one ankle and then opting not to compete in qualifying last year.

She returns to Paris ranked back inside the top 50 and will hope to continue her encouraging form on the clay, which included a run to the fourth round of the Italian Open.

Raducanu struggled with a recurrence of a back problem during a second-round loss to Danielle Collins at the WTA event in Strasbourg on Wednesday, but it is understood there is no concern around her participation at Roland Garros, with the 22-year-old on her way to the French capital.