Despite her limited French Open experience and fears concerning a back injury, Emma Raducanu is the resounding favourite to defeat Wang Xiyu in Monday's first-round contest.
The 22-year-old heads into the second Grand Slam of 2025 after reaching the last 16 in Rome and Strasbourg, positioning the British star for a first win in Paris after three years when she takes to the court against her Chinese opponent, who has never won multiple matches at the event.
Match preview
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Raducanu's performances and results have gradually steadied after a mixed start to 2025, evidenced by the Briton's quarter-final run in Miami and recent last-16 involvements in Rome and Strasbourg.
The former world No. 10's run in the WTA 1000 event in Italy was especially striking, as it marked the second time that the one-time Grand Slam winner has clinched three consecutive victories or more this season after a four-match sequence in Miami.
Even though Raducanu's run in Rome was snapped by the in-form Coco Gauff, that showing highlighted the 2021 US Open champion's potential on the dirt when everything comes together.
Repeating the same at a Grand Slam remains uncertain for the 22-year-old, whose little experience on the Paris dirt means historical performance cannot be considered.
Having not featured at the French Open since a 2022 debut appearance, the world No. 43 aims to record only her second-ever success at Roland Garros at Xiyu's expense.
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Raducanu's Chinese opponent is the undoubted underdog heading into Monday's tournament opener, considering the 24-year-old has claimed only four wins in 2025 across qualifying and main draws.
The left-handed player has secured just one main-draw win this season, strikingly coming at the Australian Open in January, when she beat Austria's Julia Grabher in straight sets.
Since that success, the world No. 132's only triumph came in Rome qualifying against Bernarda Pera, only to suffer a straight-set defeat at the hands of Arantxa Rus in the following round.
Further underlining Xiyu's underdog status heading into the French Open first round is a career 1-3 record in Paris, though her solitary victory was 12 months ago against countrywoman Zhuoxuan Bai.
It will be fascinating to see if the 24-year-old shocks Raducanu to notch a second triumph on the clay courts in France, but the precedent suggests that the former No. 49 player in the world stands little chance.
Head To Head
Raducanu and Xiyu will face each other for the first time on the women's tour in Paris.
The British player holds a 12-10 win in 2025 to the underdog's 4-7 record in qualifying and main draws.
However, nine of Raducanu's victories have come since March, highlighting the 22-year-old's improved results on the women's tour.
While the one-time Grand Slam winner is 1-1 against left-handed players this year, she enters her round-one match having won the most recent against such opponents, beating Jil Teichmann in Rome.
We say: Raducanu to win in two sets
It is difficult to see beyond a Raducanu victory over Xiyu, who has struggled for any rhythm across major tournaments and smaller events in 2025.
Given the British player's improved performances and results since the second leg of the Sunshine Double, the former US Open champion is backed to record her second-ever Paris success.
