Emma Raducanu, the young British tennis star, has once again found herself grappling with an injury scare, this time during her recent match at the Internationaux de Strasbourg. The incident occurred just days before the highly anticipated French Open, casting a shadow of doubt over her participation in the clay-court Grand Slam. Facing the formidable American Danielle Collins, Raducanu ultimately succumbed to a 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 defeat in a hard-fought encounter that lasted over two hours and twenty minutes.
The match began promisingly for Raducanu. She displayed a level of consistency that had been a hallmark of her recent resurgence on clay, breaking Collins early to take a 3-2 lead in the first set. The former US Open champion was rewarded for her solid start, making only six unforced errors in the initial ten games and even joking with her team as she comfortably served out the set, winning eight points in a row to clinch it 6-4.
However, the momentum shifted dramatically in the second set. Collins, a former Australian Open runner-up known for her aggressive baseline game, found her rhythm and began to dictate play. She broke Raducanu’s serve twice without reply, racing to a commanding 5-0 lead. It was at this crucial juncture that Raducanu called for a medical timeout. She was visibly in discomfort, needing treatment for a lower back issue that had been troubling her. After a brief discussion with the physio, she left the court for an off-court assessment.
The sight of Raducanu requiring medical attention immediately sparked concerns, given her well-documented history of injuries that have plagued her career since her sensational US Open triumph in 2021. She has faced various setbacks, including multiple wrist and ankle surgeries in 2023, and even withdrew from the Miami Open earlier this year due to lower back pain. In fact, Raducanu herself revealed in her post-match press conference that she has been dealing with “intense” back spasms for a considerable time. “I felt it after the first round,” she stated. “Yesterday I just tried to manage it, like, I got treatment. I was pretty stiff and sore. I’ve had back problems before. At the start of the year I was out for a few months because of it.1 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.”2
Despite the medical timeout and her apparent discomfort, Raducanu returned to the court and, to the relief of her team and fans, appeared to move freely. She managed to stop Collins’s relentless run of games, but the American was not to be denied the second set, winning it comprehensively 6-1.
The deciding set proved to be a true battle of wills. Raducanu showed immense resilience, applying significant pressure on Collins’s serve. She created numerous break point opportunities, failing to convert her first eight before finally converting her ninth to level the set at 3-3 after being broken earlier. This gritty fightback highlighted her determination and improved clay-court prowess, a surface she admits she’s still “building a relationship with.” Her impressive opening win over world No. 17 Daria Kasatkina in Strasbourg, following a run to the Italian Open fourth round where she secured three consecutive clay-court victories for the first time in her career, had signaled a positive trajectory on the red dirt.
However, Collins, a player who recently defeated Roland Garros champion Iga Swiatek in Italy, showcased her own mental toughness. She rallied once more, breaking Raducanu twice to love in the closing stages of the decider, ultimately completing the turnaround with a 6-3 victory in the third set.
The defeat, while a setback, offers valuable clay-court practice for Raducanu just days before the French Open begins on Sunday. The main concern now revolves around her physical well-being. Whether this latest back issue will truly inhibit her performance at Roland Garros remains to be seen. Only time will tell if she can overcome this physical hurdle and continue her promising progress on the clay courts of Paris.
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