Tennis fans go nuts over Emma Raducanu act at French Open

Emma Raducanu has produced an impressive comeback to win through to the second round of the French Open after a number of leading contenders were eliminated in the opening round.

The popular Briton lost in the first set and first set and faced the fight of her life to draw level in the second - but the reigning US Open champion turned it on in the third to claim a 6-7, 7-5, 6-1 victory over Czech challenger Linda Noskova.

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Describing her Roland Garros debut as an 'absolute battle' afterwards, the 19-year-old Raducanu put some fears of a lingering back injury to rest, having been questionable to contest the French Open in the weeks prior.

Raducanu gave plenty of credit to qualifier Noskova afterwards, aknowledging the match was a rare occasion in which she came into the match as the more experienced player.

Noskova, a junior champion at Roland Garros in 2021, proved to be an exceptional challenge especially when some rain fell during the first set.

A lack of confidence on a heavier, greasier surface for Raducanu allowed the 17-year-old Noskova to seize the first set, but as conditions improved the Briton was able to work her way back into the match.

"Linda really came out there firing and as soon as I dropped my ball speed she was all over me," Raducanu said.

"It was really challenging in the second set - I'm really proud of how I fought but all props to Linda."

Fans were impressed with Raducanu's victory, particularly after a wobbly start.

Raducanu's attention will now turn to second round opponenet, Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus.

The first day of competition at the French Open produced a number of big upsets, most notably the loss of reigning champion Barbora Krejcikova.

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Krejcikova became only the third defending champion to be knocked out in the opening round at Roland Garros after losing to 97th-ranked Frenchwoman Diane Parry.

Also exiting the French Open at the first hurdle was four-time grand slam winner Naomi Osaka, an unhappy return a year after pulling out of the claycourt tournament to protect her mental health.

Angelique Kerber, chasing a career grand slam having won the other three majors, nearly followed them out of the tournament but survived two match points.

Iga Swiatek, the world No.1 and favourite, has progressed, along with fellow former grand slam champs Petra Kvitova, Victoria Azarenka, Emma Raducanu, Bianca Andreescu.

Krejcikova's defeat is not so much a shock as it sounds as this was her first match in three months because of an injured right elbow.

Nevertheless, she started sharply winning eight of the first nine games to take a one-set lead only for Parry, 19, to reel off six straight games to tie the match before winning 1-6 6-2 6-3.

Parry received raucous backing from spectators shouting for her at Court Philippe Chatrier, where the noise echoed under the retractable roof pulled shut because of rain.

"It's a dream for me. It was always a dream to play on this court, with the French crowd to support me. They clearly pushed me to victory today," Parry said. "I'm the happiest person right now."

Krejcikova, in contrast, was in tears as she described how she 'hit a wall'.

She added: "I just collapsed physically. It was tough because I didn't play the matches. Matches are different to practices. I tried to prepare the best way I could."

However, she added she was 'happy' just to have made it to Paris as at one stage she thought her elbow injury would prevent her competing at all.

With AAP

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