By Ros Satar
- Emma Raducanu [12] def. Linda Noskova [Q] 6-7(4), 7-5, 6-1
- Faces Sasnovich next | H2H: Sasnovich leads 1-0
PARIS FRANCE – Emma Raducanu won the battle of the teens in a three set thriller, and faces Aliaksandra Sasnovich next.
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Emma Raducanu [12] def Linda Noskova [Q] 6-7(4), 7-5, 6-1
It was a constant source of amusement throughout the match that Emma Raducanu was the more experienced player on court, when she took on last year’s French Open Junior Girls title winner, Linda Noskova. But also, there was a sense we were once more viewing the future of the WTA, much in the same way we saw that the tour was on good hands when Raducanu beat Leylah Fernandez to claim the US Open title.
In difficult conditions, with miserable rain, it looked as though the 17-year-old Czech was troubled more by it, as Raducanu bossed the lion’s share of the exchanges but in the tie-break, suddenly Noskova capably demonstrated why she has raced up the rankings this year, as she lifted her level to snatch the tie-break.
Even in the second round, Raducanu found herself having to scrap and battle as the momentum switched from one side of the net to the other, and the Brit just held on to grab the second set.
In the decider, it would be the 17-year-old who blinked, and even though she had chances to get a break back against Raducanu, all that experience (!) stood the British No. 1 in better stead as she closed out a tiring first round to claim her first win at Roland Garros.
H2H & Match Fundamentals
| Emma Raducanu [12] v Aliaksandra Sasnovich | H2H: Sasnovich leads 1-0 |
| Roland Garros | Paris, France |
| Clay (O) | Prize Money: €86,000 |
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Tale of the Tape – Key Stats (2022 – Clay)
| H2H: | Emma Raducanu (WR 12) | Aliaksandra Sasnovich |
| Tournament Previous Best | Debut | R2 (2017, 2020-21) |
| 1st Serve Return Points Won % | 39.9 | 38.1 |
| Return Points Won % | 44.1 | 46.3 |
| Break Point Conversion % | 53.5 | 51.5 |
| Break Points Saved % | 63.2 | 58.9 |
| Total Points Won % | 53.3 | 52.2 |
The pair are pretty closely matched, with Sasnovich just a little more match sharp on the clay.
Playing Styles & Prediction
There will be more of the same from the first round, looking at gaining ground from the baseline, and Sasnovich prides herself on being a more cerebral player rather than just clubbing the ball from the back of the court.
Raducanu has also really started to prove herself as a problem solver on the court – whether it be dealing with blisters, or 17-year-old junior slam winning prodigies.
Although of course Sasnovich handed Raducanu her first defeat after that monumental US Open run, so perhaps a little revenge is on order. Although the Brit has not been on the tour for any length of time, she is learning and adapting – but Sasnovich came into Roland Garros on the back of two very strong performances in Rome and Strasbourg.
Prediction: Raducanu in three sets.
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