EMMA RADUCANU ENTERS FRENCH OPEN QUALIFYING DESPITE SCHEDULE OVERLAP WITH STRASBOURG AHEAD OF GRAND SLAM
Emma Raducanu’s plans for the rest of the clay season are taking shape. The 21-year-old has entered into qualifying for the French Open, which starts on Monday, May 20. She is also entered to play a tournament in Strasbourg that week, but might be hoping to secure a main-draw spot at the French Open as she is currently the fifth alternate on the entry list.
Emma Raducanu has entered qualifying for the French Open, despite it overlapping with her current plans to compete in Strasbourg in the same week. The former US Open champion won four matches in a row to start her clay swing across the Billie Jean King Cup and Stuttgart Open. Those results moved her ranking up to No. 221, which was enough to secure her the last direct spot into qualifying for Roland-Garros.
Raducanu is also on the list for the main draw as an alternate, with her protected ranking of No. 103 not currently high enough for direct entry. Raducanu currently needs five players to withdraw to secure a main-draw spot. If Raducanu does go through qualifying it will be the first time she has done so since winning the 2021 US Open.
However, Raducanu could have a schedule clash as she is also entered into the WTA 500 event in Strasbourg the week before the French Open.
Qualifying for the French Open starts on Monday, May 20 and finishes on Friday, May 24.
The tournament in Strasbourg begins on May 19.
Raducanu might be hoping that she does not need to go through French Open qualifying and enough players will withdraw to move her up into a main-draw spot. That may well happen, but it could occur after qualifying for the Grand Slam begins.
Raducanu is currently not entered into the Italian Open, which starts next week.
The 21-year-old said she was “exhausted” following her first-round exit at the Madrid Open. “I think from the performance today it was very clear that mentally and emotionally I was exhausted,” she said. “I was trying to push through. I was pushing through Stuttgart and was just unable to push through today. So yeah, it’s a shame that I was feeling so good on the court and today happened, but I guess this sport is just pretty brutal.”
World No. 117 Caroline Wozniacki has not entered the qualifying draw so will not play at the French Open for the first time since 2019 unless she gets a wildcard.
