French Open 2026: Emma Raducanu crashes out in first round with defeat to Solana Sierra

Great Britain's top-ranked women's tennis player Emma Raducanu crashed out of the 2026 French Open in the first round, losing 6-0, 7-6 (7-4) to Argentina's Solana Sierra in Paris on Sunday (24 May).

Raducanu has struggled for form and rhythm since returning from a lengthy layoff. Back on court last week in Strasbourg after a two-month absence due to post-viral illness, she also fell at the first hurdle.

Playing on the Parisian clay for the third time, the unseeded Raducanu made a stuttering start, fending off two break points in the opening game before Sierra broke her serve at the third attempt.

World No. 68 Sierra held her serve in the second game before breaking Raducanu again, asserting early dominance in their first-ever meeting.

Saving a break point to hold serve in the following game, the Argentine 21-year-old broke for a third time before serving up a first-set bagel in 24 minutes.

Raducanu bounced back in the second set, holding serve to win her first game, but Sierra broke the Briton's serve twice again to open a 4-1 lead.

Digging deep, Raducanu broke Sierra's serve in the next game and held her serve to bridge the gap to 4-3 before breaking again, to level at 5-5.

Sierra held her nerve, breaking Raducanu's serve for a sixth time but the Briton did the same, leveling at 6-6 to force the second set to a tie breaker. Ultimately, Sierra came on top, wrapping up the contest in under two hours.

Before the match, Raducanu told the press she expected a tricky challenge from clay-court specialist Sierra, who also made a surprise run to the fourth round of Wimbledon, the grass-court major, last year.

Sunday's first-round exit was Raducanu's worst run at Roland Garros, where she has twice - in 2022 and 2025 - reached the second round.

The 23-year-old Raducanu rose to fame at the 2021 US Open when she became the first qualifier - male or female - to win a Grand Slam.

Click here to read article