Emma Raducanu faced a disappointing start to her 2026 French Open campaign, exiting in the first round after a 6-0, 7-6 (7-4) defeat to Solana Sierra from Argentina at Roland Garros. The match highlighted Raducanu's ongoing struggles to regain her form following a lengthy absence due to post-viral illness. The 23-year-old Briton, currently the highest-ranked women's singles player from Great Britain, made a nervous start, dropping the first set without winning a game in just 24 minutes. Although she showed resilience in the second set, fighting back from a 4-1 deficit to level the score at 5-5, Sierra ultimately prevailed in the tie-break. This defeat marks Raducanu's earliest exit at the French Open, having reached the second round in 2022 and 2025. Raducanu, who gained fame as the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2021, acknowledged Sierra's prowess on clay, indicating the challenges she faced in this match.