Emma Raducanu accused of ‘cold’ and ‘dismissive’ handshake with French Open rival Iga Swiatek after British star was brutally dumped out of Grand Slam

Emma Raducanu‘s final interaction with Iga Swiatek was dubbed ‘cold’ and ‘dismissive’ by former tennis star Annabel Croft after the ex-British No1 was brutally despatched 6-1, 6-2 in their second-round French Open meeting. 

The 22-year-old has been enjoying an improved season on clay, notching up a number of eye-catching wins under the guidance of her new coach Mark Petchey. 

But the former US Open winner understood that she would face a far tougher test than her first-round match against Wang Xinyu when gearing up for meeting the defending champion in round two. 

Swiatek has carved out a formidable reputation on Court Philippe-Chatrier, winning four French Open titles and in the hunt for a fourth-consecutive trophy this season. 

The Polish star and Raducanu also share uncomfortable recent history, with Swiatek beating the Briton 6-1, 6-0 in Melbourne at this year’s Australian Open.  

Raducanu started the match well, but quickly saw her game slip away from her in the face of Swiatek’s excellent footwork and movement on clay, and bulletproof forehand game. 

Emma Raducanu was bowled over by Iga Swiatek’s forceful game on clay at the French Open

The Polish star continued her march towards a possible fourth-consecutive title in Paris

But the pair appeared frosty at the net after the rout with the players sharing only a brief shake

But the pair appeared frosty at the net after the rout with the players sharing only a brief shake

By the time Swiatek scythed her way to match point, Raducanu looked lost and thorough depleted. 

And the experience of the past few hours appeared to tell at the net, with Croft reporting for BBC Sport that the parting gestures between the two players seemed less than friendly. 

‘That was quite a cold handshake,’ the Strictly Come Dancing star said. 

‘There was no warmth there between the two players. It was quite dismissive, almost just a handshake and then a walk off. 

‘Once Iga Swiatek got a breakthrough in this match, she just stamped her authority on it.’

Raducanu admitted that her opponent’s prowess had left her woefully ‘exposed’ during their fifth meeting.  

It was a really difficult match. Iga played really well. It was tough,’ Raducanu said after the tie. ‘I think in the beginning of the match it was pretty tight. 

‘As it went on I think she grew in confidence. I just felt a bit exposed. It was the first time playing a match on that court. It’s different and it’s new for me.

‘It’s a surrounding that she’s obviously very comfortable with and she’s played in it a lot of times.

‘I did emphasise beforehand, me feeling a bit uncomfortable. But it’s a good experience if I ever play on that court again.

Raducanu admitted that she had been left ‘exposed’ by her opponent on Philippe-Chatrier

‘You just don’t really feel like there is that much space on the court and in certain moments, you overhit, you just feel constant pressure.

‘I definitely think I can improve certain areas of my game to maybe make me feel like I have less holes.

‘I’m just going to try my best to work on that. It just shows, I guess, the distance that I have to improve.’

With the clay season in her rear view, Raducanu will now switch focus to a much more familiar surface, starting her grass court season at Queens at the start of June.