Emma Raducanu was narrowly defeated on Tuesday by Frenchwoman Diane Parry in her first match in two months at the WTA 500 tournament in Strasbourg, losing 6-4, 7-6(4). The British No 1 was playing her first tournament since Indian Wells in March, having recovered from a viral illness, and this marked her maiden clay-court appearance of the season.
The match was a lengthy and topsy-turvy encounter lasting two hours and 25 minutes, with Raducanu struggling with her serve at crucial moments. Raducanu was accompanied by her reinstated coach, Andrew Richardson, who previously guided her to her US Open triumph in 2021.
Despite the straight-sets loss, Raducanu's fitness held up well, indicating a positive display ahead of the French Open, which starts this weekend, though she remains short of match practice.
