US Open champion Emma Raducanu will start her French Open campaign against a qualifier, assuming she’s fit enough to play at Roland-Garros.Raducanu retired from her first round match at the Italian Open two weeks ago with a back injury and reportedly returned to England to seek treatment. The Brit is currently competing in her first full season on the WTA Tour, but has won just six matches so far this year. Nonetheless, Raducanu is seeded 12th for Roland Garros and has seemingly ended up on the easier side of the draw. 

Who will Raducanu play? 

The 19-year-old will face a qualifier in the first round of the competition, followed by either Aliaksandra Sasnovich or China’s Xinyu Wang. 

If Raducanu comes through her opening two matches, there is a chance she could face fellow Brit Heather Watson in the third round. However, the more likely opponent is three-time major winner Angelique Kerber. 

Ons Jabeur is the highest seed in Raducanu’s quarter, and the Brit has the potential to face the Tunisian in the last 16 if both make it that far. 

In the quarter-finals, Raducanu may end up meeting Naomi Osaka for the first time, though the Japanese star faces a tricky opening match against 27th seed Amanda Anisimova. 

More good news for Raducanu is that she has avoided being on the same side of the draw as world number one, Iga Swiatek. Instead, the British number one is in the same half as defending champion Barbora Krejcikova. 

Will Raducanu be fit?

The biggest question concerning Raducanu right now is not how far she’ll go in the tournament, but rather if she’ll play at all. 

Injuries have plagued the Brit all season and she has now suffered from blisters, hip problems, knee issues and now this recurring back pain. 

Raducanu
ROME, ITALY - MAY 10: Emma Raducanu of Great Britain receives treatment before a medical time out in her women's singles first round match against Bianca Andreescu of Canada during day three of the Internazionali BNL D'Italia at Foro Italico on May 10, 2022 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

So far the Brit has shown only glimpses of the player that won a Grand Slam in remarkable fashion last year and has struggled to win multiple matches in succession. 

So far, the Brit has given no indication that she might withdraw from Roland-Garros but given the way her season has gone so far, her absence would come as little surprise. 

A tough draw for Swiatek 

Meanwhile, world number one Swiatek is bidding to win her second major title, though she faces a tough draw. 

Swiatek also faces a qualifier first-up,  but may have to play Simona Halep in round four, or Jelena Ostapenko, who she is still yet to beat in her career. 

Swiatek

The 2020 Roland-Garros champion is also on the same side of the draw as Spain’s Paula Badosa, Aryna Sabalenka and Australian Open finalist Danielle Collins. 

Regardless, Swiatek is still the overwhelming favourite to win the tournament. The 20-year-old is on a run of 28 consecutive victories and has won her last five WTA events in a row.