Emma Raducanu has stood by her decision to compete on clay at the French Open rather than skip the tournament to prepare for grass, despite suffering a first-round defeat that left her visibly emotional. The British number one lost 6-0 7-6 (4) to Argentina's Solana Sierra in Paris, a match that highlighted the rustiness she has carried since returning from a two-and-a-half-month layoff due to a virus and post-viral illness.
Emotional Aftermath
The 23-year-old former US Open champion fought back tears when reflecting on her career trajectory since her stunning 2021 triumph in New York. She described herself as resilient but acknowledged the weight of recent struggles. Raducanu had not played for five to six weeks after her illness, making the French Open a significant test. Despite the loss, she affirmed her choice: “I stand by it, because I think I got to experience a grand slam. I never want to miss it.”
Return to Grass
Raducanu now turns her attention to the grass-court season, where she has ranking points to defend from last year's quarter-final at Queen's Club and a third-round appearance at Wimbledon. Her game is better suited to grass, where her ability to take the ball early and aggressive returning style can compensate for a lack of power. She has rehired her US Open-winning coach Andrew Richardson, aiming to rediscover the first-strike tennis that brought her early success.
Her next tournament is the HSBC Championships at Queen's starting June 8, with potential entries in Berlin and Eastbourne. She said: “I'm looking forward to getting back on home soil. Queen's is always an amazing tournament.” With no seeding likely at Wimbledon, Raducanu will face a tough draw but remains optimistic about her chances on grass.
