Raducanu suffers a back injury scare and loses in three sets to Danielle Collins at Internationaux de Strasbourg ahead of the French Open.
Emma Raducanu’s impressive run on clay came to a halt at the Internationaux de Strasbourg after she was defeated by American Danielle Collins in the last 16, losing 4-6, 6-1, 6-3. The 22-year-old British No 2 looked sharp early, clinching the first set with just six unforced errors and finishing strong with a couple of aces. However, a back problem interrupted her rhythm and ultimately contributed to her exit just weeks before the French Open.
Raducanu, who has battled back issues before this season, left the court during the second set for treatment, trailing 5-0 when she called a medical timeout. After a 10-minute break, she returned but struggled to regain her early form. Collins capitalised on Raducanu’s dip, breaking twice in the second set to level the match.
The third set was a tightly contested affair. Raducanu fought back from a break down to level at 3-3, showcasing resilience despite her discomfort. But Collins seized the initiative again, breaking Raducanu’s serve at love and holding to secure the decisive lead. A final break of serve sealed the victory for the American, who will now face Anna Kalinskaya in the quarter-finals after Kalinskaya upset top seed Jessica Pegula.
This defeat is a setback for Raducanu, who had shown promise on clay with three straight wins at the Italian Open and a solid opening victory over Daria Kasatkina earlier in Strasbourg. The back injury now raises concerns ahead of the French Open, where she will hope to be fully fit.
After the match, Collins reflected on the intensity and mental challenge of competing at the highest level. “To be good at anything, self-expression is really important,” she said. “I’m a competitor at the end of the day. At this level, you have to bring the energy and compete hard, even through tough moments.”
Meanwhile, other British hopes found more success on the ATP Tour. Novak Djokovic secured his first clay-court win of the season at the Geneva Open, beating Marton Fucsovics 6-2, 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals. The 24-time Grand Slam champion will next face Matteo Arnaldi as he chases his 100th ATP title.
Britain’s Cameron Norrie also advanced to the quarter-finals in Geneva after Tomas Machac retired injured in the third set, with Norrie leading 3-6, 6-2, 4-3 at the time. However, compatriot Jacob Fearnley was eliminated after a straight-sets loss to Australia’s Alexei Popyrin.
Raducanu’s loss in Strasbourg serves as a reminder of the physical demands of the tennis season and the fine margins that affect performance. As the clay-court swing continues, the British star will be hoping to recover swiftly and return to form ahead of the sport’s second Grand Slam at Roland Garros.
