“Ruthless” is perhaps the right term to describe the battle between Iga Swiatek and Emma Raducanu. These two have now faced each other four times in their careers so far, and guess what? The former world number one got the better of the Brit on all four occasions. Their first meeting was on clay (2022 Stuttgart Open), and then the second one came in Indian Wells. Following the straight-set defeat in the R16 of the Indian Wells, Raducanu said, “I think that Iga played a very good level and showed why she is number one in the world. She was very ruthless with the way that she played.” Swiatek has been quite consistent in her approach against Raducanu, and interestingly, these two will now yet again cross paths for the second time this season. Two Grand Slam events, two meetings! What does Raducanu have to say ahead of this blockbuster clash?

Well, before this meeting at Roland Garros, these two took on each other in the third round of the 2025 AO. Before that match, Emma Raducanu stated, “I’m loving it. It’s another opportunity to test my game. I think obviously she’s (Swiatek) achieved so much already and I think going into it, I have nothing to lose. I’m just going to swing. I’m going to give it my best and I can’t wait to play in front of you guys.” She also praised the Pole by hailing her as a “top player” who has been delivering at a consistent level over the last few years. At that time, she knew she wasn’t the favorite and went on to that battle just to test herself “against the best“. The match needed 6-1,6-0 in favor of the Pole.

But this time, Emma Raducanu will be full of confidence after her impressive performance at the Miami Open, where she reached the QF. On the other hand, Swiatek has now dropped to number five due to her poor form. Is it a chance for players like Raducanu to take full advantage of this massive opportunity? Well, in the press conference at Roland Garros, the Brit said, “It’s great, I get another crack at the best in the world. It’s a match for me where I can test and challenge myself. Exposure to the top players is great for where I’m at, for my development. Especially on clay, it’s her preferred tournament, probably, surface. She’s won it like 4 times. So it’s a match where I can go out and test myself and go for my shots.“

She further added, “I know if I just push the ball, I’m probably going to get eaten. I need to, like, hit the ball. I’m looking forward to that challenge. I feel like Iga has always played really well when we’ve played. Especially in Australia this year. I’m looking forward to playing her again. I think in the last months I’ve made good strides with my game and my mentality as well, big time. It’s great, I get another crack at the best in the world. I’m looking forward to playing on a big court probably as well.” 

Interesting Fact: Even at the Wimbledon Juniors (2018), Iga Swiatek defeated Emma Raducanu in the QF clash by a 6-0,6-1 margin.

Emma Raducanu’s resurgence has been the talk of the town recently, but amid all of this, there have been a few concerns surrounding her fitness levels. In Strasbourg, she suffered a back spasm and later on claimed that although she feels good, it’s “not 100% yet.” Then in Paris, although she ended three-year wait for a French Open win by defeating China’s Wang Xinyu by 7-5,4-6,6-3 in a 2 hours and 44 minutes battle, she needed a five-minute medical timeout in the first set.

Talking about that moment in her post-match interview, she said, “I don’t feel great, I was struggling from the start. I was flat, but I’m happy to find a way.” During the time out, her blood pressure and body temperature were checked, and later on, she was even spotted rubbing ice underneath her eyes. Did her longest match on clay take a heavy toll on her health? Well, seeing those pictures on the TV screen, the British fans will surely be worried ahead of her vital clash against the four-time champion. But having already missed the action in the previous two editions, perhaps Raducanu’s resilience and grit take over whatever hurdles come her way. What does Iga Swiatek have to say about this match, though?

Iga Swiatek takes nothing for granted against someone like Emma Raducanu

In 2024, when Iga Swiatek outclassed Emma Raducanu by straight sets in the QF of the Stuttgart Open, the Pole had said that Raducanu definitely “has the game”. She spoke about how difficult it was to break Raducanu in the initial phase of that match. Although the scorecard and H2H record may favor the world number 5, Swiatek has a huge respect for Raducanu.

After securing her first win at the French Open since 2022, Raducanu (currently ranked 41 in Singles in WTA) will go into this match thinking she has nothing to lose but a lot to gain. Why? Because there are no ranking points to defend for the Brit, and an opponent who has nothing to lose is always a real threat!

For Swiatek, it’s more like restoring her pride on this surface, following her early exit from the Italian Open. Speaking about this battle against a tricky opponent, the Pole said, “Well, you know, everybody has a different path and different changes. But for sure, she’s a great player and has a great forehand. She can use her topspin pretty well. So, we already played a couple of times, and we know each other’s game. For sure, I will need to be intense and focus on myself. She won the US Open. She can play great tennis, and I’ll be ready.” 

Can Emma Raducanu open her account against the four-time champion, or will the ‘Queen of Clay’ yet again showcase her dominance? Share your thoughts in the comment box.