The shadow of injury once again looms over Emma Raducanu as the French Open approaches, casting a familiar pall over the British star’s preparations for a Grand Slam. Her recent outing at the Internationaux de Strasbourg, a final tune-up on clay, saw her exit in the second round, but more concerning was the visible discomfort she displayed, ultimately revealing a recurring back issue. This setback, just days before Roland Garros, has ignited fresh worries among her fans and within her camp.
Raducanu’s clash against American Danielle Collins in Strasbourg began promisingly. The former US Open champion showcased some of the form that has seen her enjoy a surprisingly strong clay-court season, securing the first set with an impressive display of clean hitting and few unforced errors. She had previously notched three consecutive victories on clay at the Italian Open, a personal best, and followed it up with a comfortable win over Daria Kasatkina in Strasbourg’s opening round. These performances had suggested a growing comfort on the red dirt, a surface she has openly admitted to still “building a relationship” with.
However, the tide dramatically turned in the second set. As Collins, a formidable opponent fresh off a victory over world number one Iga Swiatek, found her rhythm, Raducanu’s movement appeared increasingly hampered. Trailing 5-0 in the second set, a medical timeout was called, and Raducanu left the court for treatment on her lower back. While she returned to finish the match, ultimately losing 4-6, 6-1, 6-3, the incident immediately raised alarms.
Following the match, a visibly disheartened Raducanu shed light on the nature of her injury. “I felt it after the first round,” she revealed, detailing the onset of the problem. “Yesterday I just tried to manage it, like, I got treatment. I was pretty stiff and sore.” This is not an unfamiliar struggle for Raducanu, whose career since her fairytale US Open triumph in 2021 has been punctuated by various physical ailments. She continued, “I’ve had back problems before. At the start of the year I was out for a few months because of it.”
Her frustration was palpable as she described the persistent nature of the issue. “Yeah, it’s annoying and it’s frustrating. I get these spasms and they’re quite intense and can last for a long time. I’ll just try and make it better.” This frank assessment underscores the chronic nature of some of her physical challenges, which have repeatedly interrupted her momentum and development on the tour.
The timing of this latest flare-up is particularly unfortunate, given her recent positive strides on clay. Raducanu had embraced the clay swing, taking a wildcard into Strasbourg specifically to gain more match practice on the surface ahead of Roland Garros. Her determination to compete, even when not at 100%, speaks volumes about her desire to build robustness and gain experience. Despite the physical discomfort, she battled hard in the deciding set against Collins, even breaking back to level at 3-3 after being down a break. This fighting spirit, even in adversity, could be seen as a positive sign that the injury isn’t completely debilitating, but the question marks surrounding her fitness remain.
Now, with the French Open on the horizon, Raducanu faces a race against time to ensure she is in the best possible condition. Her team will undoubtedly be working tirelessly to assess the extent of the back problem and implement a rigorous recovery plan. The hope is that the problem is not severe enough to derail her participation in the second Grand Slam of the year, where she reached the second round in 2022. For Raducanu, managing her body and staying consistently healthy continues to be a central theme in her evolving career. Her aspirations remain firmly fixed on the biggest stages, and a fully fit Emma Raducanu is undoubtedly a dangerous proposition for any opponent.
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