Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, is no stranger to overcoming obstacles, but as she prepares for her return to the French Open on May 25, 2025, the 22-year-old Briton faces a dual battle: a persistent back injury and a deep-seated fear of needles. Her journey to Roland Garros, her first since 2022, is marked by resilience and determination, as she navigates physical setbacks and psychological hurdles to compete on the demanding clay courts of Paris. With a first-round match against China’s Wang Xinyu looming, Raducanu’s preparation has been anything but smooth, yet her resolve to push through underscores her growth as a player and person.
Raducanu’s latest challenge surfaced during a warm-up event in Strasbourg, where she suffered a back spasm during a second-round loss to American Danielle Collins. The match, a grueling 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 defeat, saw Raducanu leave the court for a medical timeout when trailing 5-0 in the second set. Despite returning to fight valiantly in the third set, where she nearly took a 3-1 lead, the injury raised concerns about her readiness for Roland Garros. “It’s not feeling 100 per cent,” Raducanu admitted, reflecting on her condition. “I had a spasm in Strasbourg, and just been trying to manage it as best I can, doing treatment.” Her cautious optimism is tempered by the reality of a recurring issue, as she noted a similar back problem sidelined her before the Australian Open earlier this year. “I would say the one before Australia was worse,” she added, suggesting this latest spasm, while serious, was caught early enough to avoid a full lock-up.
To manage the injury, Raducanu has turned to physiotherapy, heat therapy, and acupuncture—a treatment that forces her to confront her “biggest phobia” of needles. “At the start of the year, I was so scared of needles,” she confessed. “That was the only way I was going to be able to play Australia. So since then, I’ve been kind of dipping my toes into it because I know it helps even though I’m really scared of them.” The necessity of dry needling, a form of acupuncture where needles are manipulated to stimulate muscles, has been particularly daunting. Yet, Raducanu’s commitment to her career has pushed her to build tolerance, a process she described as akin to “playing Pin the Donkey” during early-morning anti-doping blood tests. “Sometimes it feels like Pin the Donkey because at 6am you’re not very hydrated and everything,” she said, highlighting the challenge of providing blood samples under pressure. “It’s not the most enjoyable thing, but it’s just part of what we have to do.”
The clay courts of Roland Garros pose a unique challenge for Raducanu, whose back issues seem exacerbated by the surface’s demands. “In 2024 and in 2022 when I played on the clay, I had, both times, back issues,” she explained, noting that the higher-bouncing balls and longer rallies put additional strain on her lower back. Despite this, Raducanu has shown progress on clay this season, reaching the fourth round in Rome and defeating top players like Daria Kasatkina in Strasbourg. Her decision to take a wildcard into Strasbourg, a departure from her usual lighter pre-Grand Slam schedule, reflects her determination to build match fitness and confidence on the surface. “I think we all look at it as a challenge and less of a scary thing,” she said of the British contingent, including Katie Boulter and Jack Draper, who are also competing in Paris. “It’s nice to get some wins on the board on this surface, and I think as we all do that, we kind of give each other inspiration.”
Raducanu’s injury history adds context to her current struggle. Since her stunning US Open triumph in 2021, she has faced a litany of setbacks, including wrist and ankle surgeries in 2023 that saw her ranking plummet from the top 10 to outside the top 300. Her comeback this season, marked by a climb back into the top 50, showcases her resilience, but the physical toll of professional tennis remains a constant hurdle. “I think as players we always push on through because there’s no real breaks in the season,” she said, reflecting on past mistakes. “I know from personal experience with my wrists, I was struggling for seven months before I ended up having surgery.” This time, guided by interim coach Mark Petchey, Raducanu is listening to her body, balancing treatment with intense practice sessions to be ready for her opener against Wang Xinyu.
Off the court, Raducanu’s candor about her phobias extends beyond needles. She admitted to a fear of the ocean’s depths, laughing, “I’m not great in the water, to be honest, with what’s underneath.” This vulnerability humanizes the young star, who faces a daunting second-round matchup against world No. 2 Iga Swiatek if she advances. Yet, Raducanu’s focus remains on the present, with daily practice sessions showing promise. “I’ve been on the practice court last night and this morning. It felt OK, but obviously it’s different playing a match,” she said, emphasizing her efforts to “get up to speed as fast as possible.”
As Raducanu steps onto the red clay of Roland Garros, her battle is as much mental as physical. Confronting her fear of needles and managing a lingering injury, she embodies the grit that carried her to a Grand Slam title at 18. With the support of her team and the inspiration of her British peers, Raducanu is poised to face the challenge head-on, proving that even her deepest fears won’t keep her from chasing greatness.
# Emma Raducanu Confronts Needle Phobia and Back Injury Ahead of French Open Challenge
Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, is no stranger to overcoming obstacles, but as she prepares for her return to the French Open on May 25, 2025, the 22-year-old Briton faces a dual battle: a persistent back injury and a deep-seated fear of needles. Her journey to Roland Garros, her first since 2022, is marked by resilience and determination, as she navigates physical setbacks and psychological hurdles to compete on the demanding clay courts of Paris. With a first-round match against China’s Wang Xinyu looming, Raducanu’s preparation has been anything but smooth, yet her resolve to push through underscores her growth as a player and person.
Raducanu’s latest challenge surfaced during a warm-up event in Strasbourg, where she suffered a back spasm during a second-round loss to American Danielle Collins. The match, a grueling 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 defeat, saw Raducanu leave the court for a medical timeout when trailing 5-0 in the second set. Despite returning to fight valiantly in the third set, where she nearly took a 3-1 lead, the injury raised concerns about her readiness for Roland Garros. “It’s not feeling 100 per cent,” Raducanu admitted, reflecting on her condition. “I had a spasm in Strasbourg, and just been trying to manage it as best I can, doing treatment.” Her cautious optimism is tempered by the reality of a recurring issue, as she noted a similar back problem sidelined her before the Australian Open earlier this year. “I would say the one before Australia was worse,” she added, suggesting this latest spasm, while serious, was caught early enough to avoid a full lock-up.
To manage the injury, Raducanu has turned to physiotherapy, heat therapy, and acupuncture—a treatment that forces her to confront her “biggest phobia” of needles. “At the start of the year, I was so scared of needles,” she confessed. “That was the only way I was going to be able to play Australia. So since then, I’ve been kind of dipping my toes into it because I know it helps even though I’m really scared of them.” The necessity of dry needling, a form of acupuncture where needles are manipulated to stimulate muscles, has been particularly daunting. Yet, Raducanu’s commitment to her career has pushed her to build tolerance, a process she described as akin to “playing Pin the Donkey” during early-morning anti-doping blood tests. “Sometimes it feels like Pin the Donkey because at 6am you’re not very hydrated and everything,” she said, highlighting the challenge of providing blood samples under pressure. “It’s not the most enjoyable thing, but it’s just part of what we have to do.”
The clay courts of Roland Garros pose a unique challenge for Raducanu, whose back issues seem exacerbated by the surface’s demands. “In 2024 and in 2022 when I played on the clay, I had, both times, back issues,” she explained, noting that the higher-bouncing balls and longer rallies put additional strain on her lower back. Despite this, Raducanu has shown progress on clay this season, reaching the fourth round in Rome and defeating top players like Daria Kasatkina in Strasbourg. Her decision to take a wildcard into Strasbourg, a departure from her usual lighter pre-Grand Slam schedule, reflects her determination to build match fitness and confidence on the surface. “I think we all look at it as a challenge and less of a scary thing,” she said of the British contingent, including Katie Boulter and Jack Draper, who are also competing in Paris. “It’s nice to get some wins on the board on this surface, and I think as we all do that, we kind of give each other inspiration.”
Raducanu’s injury history adds context to her current struggle. Since her stunning US Open triumph in 2021, she has faced a litany of setbacks, including wrist and ankle surgeries in 2023 that saw her ranking plummet from the top 10 to outside the top 300. Her comeback this season, marked by a climb back into the top 50, showcases her resilience, but the physical toll of professional tennis remains a constant hurdle. “I think as players we always push on through because there’s no real breaks in the season,” she said, reflecting on past mistakes. “I know from personal experience with my wrists, I was struggling for seven months before I ended up having surgery.” This time, guided by interim coach Mark Petchey, Raducanu is listening to her body, balancing treatment with intense practice sessions to be ready for her opener against Wang Xinyu.
Off the court, Raducanu’s candor about her phobias extends beyond needles. She admitted to a fear of the ocean’s depths, laughing, “I’m not great in the water, to be honest, with what’s underneath.” This vulnerability humanizes the young star, who faces a daunting second-round matchup against world No. 2 Iga Swiatek if she advances. Yet, Raducanu’s focus remains on the present, with daily practice sessions showing promise. “I’ve been on the practice court last night and this morning. It felt OK, but obviously it’s different playing a match,” she said, emphasizing her efforts to “get up to speed as fast as possible.”
As Raducanu steps onto the red clay of Roland Garros, her battle is as much mental as physical. Confronting her fear of needles and managing a lingering injury, she embodies the grit that carried her to a Grand Slam title at 18. With the support of her team and the inspiration of her British peers, Raducanu is poised to face the challenge head-on, proving that even her deepest fears won’t keep her from chasing greatness.
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