Tennis
Emma Raducanu makes big French Open statement as Brit gets boost with emphatic win
Emma Raducanu made a huge statement ahead of the French Open by surging to an impressive victory over Daria Kasatkina in Strasbourg. The former US Open champion had never won a set against her Australian rival prior to their very first meeting on clay, but was a cut above the 28-year-old as she claimed an emphatic 6-1 6-3 victory.
The young Brit had not been expected to appear in another tournament before Roland Garros but decided to accept a wildcard in Strasbourg. It was a strategic move to acclimatise to playing on clay, the surface on which she is least comfortable. It proved to be a masterstroke as she cruised to victory over sixth seed Kasatkina despite having to dig deep in the closing stages.
