Emma Raducanu will make her comeback from illness at the Internationaux de Strasbourg next week, gaining valuable clay court time ahead of the French Open. The British No 1 has not competed since Indian Wells in March due to a post-viral illness that also forced her to withdraw from four consecutive events.
Raducanu travelled to Rome and practised before the Italian Open but decided she was not quite ready to return. Accepting a wild card into Strasbourg, she will take to the clay where she reached the second round 12 months ago. The tournament announced her participation on X, saying: “Welcome back, Emma! The 2021 US Open champion will be back on the clay courts in Strasbourg.”
It has been another challenging start to the season health-wise for Raducanu, who began the year recovering from a foot problem. She is also without a coach after splitting from Francisco Roig following the Australian Open. Speaking in Rome, she described the post-viral symptoms: “You feel drained, you feel tired, no energy. It’s difficult, and it lingered for quite a while.”
While not yet at full fitness, Raducanu struck a positive note: “I think I’ve really turned a corner and I feel so much better. I feel great on the court.” With her ranking dropping due to her absence, she will not be seeded at Roland Garros, which begins on 24 May.
