Emma Raducanu has been given a challenging first-round matchup at the French Open, where she will face Argentina’s Solana Sierra, a proven performer on clay.
The British No. 1 missed out on a seeding for the clay-court Grand Slam after slipping to 37th in the world rankings.
While the draw could have been harsher she might have drawn one of the top seeds the 64th-ranked Sierra is no easy opponent.
Like many Argentinian players, the 21-year-old began playing on clay as a toddler, and recently demonstrated her quality by taking a set off reigning French Open champion Coco Gauff in Madrid.
Should Raducanu advance, she could meet Italy’s Jasmine Paolini, last year’s runner-up, in the second round.
Elsewhere, British No. 2 Katie Boulter will open against American wildcard Akasha Urhobo, while Francesca Jones the only other Briton in the women’s singles faces Brazil’s 2023 semi-finalist Beatriz Haddad Maia.
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