Former US Open champion Emma Raducanu is preparing to return to action after receiving a wildcard entry for next week’s Strasbourg Open. The British star has been out of competition since March and is now hoping to regain rhythm before the French Open begins later this month.
The 23-year-old was originally expected to make her comeback at the Italian Open in Rome. However, she withdrew shortly before the tournament because she was still recovering from a post-viral illness that has disrupted much of her season.
Strasbourg now offers Raducanu a valuable chance to get competitive matches on clay before heading to Roland Garros. The WTA 500 tournament starts this weekend and is considered one of the final preparation events before the second Grand Slam of the year.
Raducanu has endured another difficult year with injuries and health problems limiting her time on court. Despite those setbacks, she showed promising form earlier in the season when she reached the final of the Transylvania Open, her first WTA final since winning the US Open in 2021.
Her strong run in Romania suggested she was beginning to rediscover confidence after a challenging period filled with coaching changes and inconsistent performances. But illness soon interrupted that progress and forced her to step away from competition again.
The Strasbourg event could play an important role in rebuilding both her fitness and confidence before Paris. Because of her absence from recent tournaments, Raducanu is expected to enter the French Open without a seeded position, which could leave her facing a difficult draw in the early rounds.
Last year, Raducanu also played in Strasbourg after receiving a wildcard and produced an impressive win over a top-20 opponent before exiting in the second round. Organisers will hope her return adds excitement and attention to this year’s tournament as well.
Clay has not traditionally been Raducanu’s strongest surface, but she has repeatedly said she wants to improve her game on it and gain more experience ahead of future Grand Slam campaigns. Her team believes regular matches on clay can help strengthen important areas of her game, including movement, patience and consistency during long rallies.
Fans will now be eager to see whether the former Grand Slam champion can stay healthy and build momentum again. When fully fit, Raducanu remains one of the most talented young players on the women’s tour, and Strasbourg could mark the beginning of another comeback story for the British number one.
