Emma Raducanu faced an injury scare just before the French Open as she was knocked out of the Strasbourg Open in a hard-fought match against American Danielle Collins. The British No 2 showed promising signs early in the match but ultimately succumbed in three sets, losing 4-6, 6-1, 6-3.
The 22-year-old Raducanu, who is currently chasing Katie Boulter for the status of highest-ranked British female player, began the match strongly, taking the first set. However, during the second set, she suddenly left the court to receive treatment for a back problem. At that point, Raducanu was down 0-5 and called for a medical timeout, stepping off for about ten minutes.
Although she returned to complete the match, the interruption appeared to affect her momentum significantly. Collins capitalized, wrapping up the second set quickly. There was a concern that Collins might dominate the final set, but Raducanu showed resilience, fighting hard in what turned into a close contest. She managed to get back to 3-3 after exchanging breaks but couldn’t convert four break points that might have turned the match in her favor. Collins then surged ahead, taking the last three games to seal the victory.
Raducanu’s decision to take a wildcard entry into Strasbourg, which is unusual for her before a grand slam event, was part of her preparation for the French Open, starting soon in Paris. This late addition to her schedule might suggest she was aiming to get more match play on clay, the surface that has historically been less favorable to her game. With the French Open just days away, Raducanu will now have her back fully assessed to determine the severity of the injury and how it might affect her performance in Paris.
Following Strasbourg, Raducanu has also added a new grass-court tournament to her schedule. She will compete in the inaugural Berlin Tennis Open from June 16 to 22, after starting her grass season at the Queen’s Club event. This adjustment means she will skip the Nottingham Open, where fellow Brit Katie Boulter will be competing. The Berlin event is a higher-tier WTA tournament offering more ranking points and prize money, and it features a strong field including world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka and former grand slam champion Naomi Osaka, who has also received a wildcard.
Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic achieved his first clay-court win of the season at the Geneva Open. The 37-year-old Serbian, who is pursuing his 100th ATP Tour title, overcame Marton Fucsovics in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3, despite the rainy conditions. Djokovic controlled the match from the start, not facing a single break point and delivering 73% of first serves successfully. He closed the match with a backhand winner on his second match point.
Djokovic acknowledged the importance of the win, especially on the physically demanding clay surface. After two previous defeats on clay this season, this victory is a crucial boost ahead of the French Open. His next opponent in Geneva will be Matteo Arnaldi, who earlier defeated Fabian Marozsan. Arnaldi is a familiar challenge for Djokovic, having beaten him in two sets during the Madrid Masters.
As the clay-court season reaches its peak, both Raducanu and Djokovic face pivotal moments in their preparations for Roland Garros. Raducanu’s back injury and early loss raise questions about her fitness and readiness, while Djokovic’s return to winning form on clay signals he is finding his rhythm in time for the Grand Slam. Both players will be closely watched in the coming weeks as they seek to make deep runs at the French Open.
