US Open Champion Raducanu Loses in 2nd Round at French Open

US Open Champion Raducanu Loses in 2nd Round at French Open
Britain's Emma Raducanu backhands to Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus during their second round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris on May 25, 2022. (Thibault Camus/AP Photo)
The Associated Press
5/25/2022
Updated:
5/25/2022

PARIS—U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu is out of the French Open in the second round.

Raducanu lost to Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus 3–6, 6–1, 6–1 to end her Roland Garros tournament debut on Wednesday.

The 19-year-old Raducanu broke Sasnovich in the fifth game of the opening set, hitting consecutive backhand winners followed by a forehand to clinch it.

Sasnovich couldn’t convert on three chances to break her opponent in the first set but took advantage with two breaks to start the second, when the 47th-ranked player also won 12 of 14 service points.

The 12th-seeded Raducanu failed to convert on five break-point chances at 1–1 in the third set as Sasnovich recorded her 16th career victory over a top-20 player.

Britain's Emma Raducanu hides her face as she plays Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus during their second round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris on May 25, 2022. (Thibault Camus/AP Photo)
Britain's Emma Raducanu hides her face as she plays Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus during their second round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris on May 25, 2022. (Thibault Camus/AP Photo)

Raducanu, who also lost to Sasnovich at Indian Wells last year in the Briton’s first match after winning the title at Flushing Meadows, had 17 winners and 33 unforced errors on Court Suzanne Lenglen.

Sasnovich advanced to the third round at Roland Garros for the first time. This is her seventh appearance.

Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus waves after defeating Britain's Emma Raducanu during their second round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris on May 25, 2022. (Thibault Camus/AP Photo)
Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus waves after defeating Britain's Emma Raducanu during their second round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris on May 25, 2022. (Thibault Camus/AP Photo)