RADUCANU READY TO FACE ROLE REVERSAL
EMMA RADUCANU faces a Grand Slam role reversal today when she meets a younger player whose talent was honed by the mother of Martina Hingis. In contrast to the US Open, all the pressure will be on Raducanu at Roland Garros as she tackles its junior champion from last year, 17-year-old Czech Linda Noskova. This despite the fact that her
opponent has more experience of the French Open — having come through three matches in last week’s qualifying event and lifted the girls’ trophy in 2021. Noskova has won a high volume of matches at the lower levels of the tour this season, and will be facing a British opponent whose only previous appearance in Paris was reaching the junior second round four years ago. Their rankings are 12 versus 184, but this is a dangerous match for Raducanu on the 19-year-old’s senior debut here. ‘It obviously would mean the world to me to beat her,’ said the Czech. ‘Just playing against a Grand Slam champion is such a privilege.’ Raducanu is one of five Brits in action today. Cam Norrie looks the best hope of a deep run, having won his first clay-court title on Saturday in Lyon. Despite some long matches there, and a quick turnaround, he pronounced himself ready to tackle little-known French wildcard Maxime Guinard. Dan Evans is due to take on Argentine clay expert Francisco Cerundolo. Harriet Dart will play Italy’s Martina Trevisan while Heather Watson may fancy her chances against another French wildcard, Elsa Jacquemot.