Emma Raducanu is finally set to make her long-awaited return to tennis this week, having received a late wildcard into the Strasbourg Open draw.
It represents not only her first clay-court match of the season, but her first match on any surface since early March.
Having contracted an illness during her time in Romania, the recovery process has been far harder than anyone could have imagined.
The Brit has therefore suffered plenty of shock defeats and withdrawn from so many events of late, drawing more and more scrutiny with each tough decision she has had to make.
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Alas, it does finally seem like there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, right before Roland Garros rolls around.
Both Laura Robson and Tim Henman have been discussing Emma Raducanu’s return to action, but the latter was keen to urge caution among fans.
Laura Robson and Tim Henman react to Emma Raducanu’s return
What is particularly exciting about this event in Strasbourg is that it will be Raducanu’s first tournament with her new coach, having re-hired Andrew Richardson on a permanent basis this month.
It sees her reunite with the man who helped guide her to that incredible 2021 US Open title, with many arguing that she should never have got rid of him all those years ago.
Robson began by offering a scheduling update: “Yes, back with Andrew Richardson. She’ll probably play on Tuesday, I would think, because her potential opponent was still playing today somewhere else. So, yeah, first round split over two days.
“Just really interested to see how she’s looking physically. You know, health-wise, it’s been a battle for the last few months to get back on the match court.
“She was here in Rome. She was hopeful to get back out on court. Didn’t quite feel ready, but just great to see her back out there and fingers crossed, it remains that way.”
Henman then chimed in, making a plea to tennis fans who are often so quick to criticise her: “She and we need to stay patient.
“It takes time when you’re out of the game for, you know, eight, nine, ten weeks to get that match toughness and the feel of playing, you know, big points and everything that goes with it, and she’s coming into big tournaments, she’s in Strasbourg, a 500. She got Roland Garros, then she comes to Queen’s on the grass. She’s playing at home in the lead-up to Wimbledon. It’s a lot. There’s a lot going on.
“So, yeah, hopefully she can start to build a foundation for the next weeks, months, and years.”
Who will Emma Raducanu play in her first match in two months?
Raducanu has already learned who her first match in over two months will be against, set to face Frenchwoman Diane Parry in her homeland.
She heads to Strasbourg fresh from claiming a title in Paris, albeit being gifted the trophy due to her opponent in the final, Madison Keys, withdrawing due to injury despite being a set up.
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And whilst it might only be at the WTA-125 level, winning breeds confidence, no matter who it is against.
At just 23 years old, Parry remains a young talent still waiting for her breakthrough.
However, she has had moments to celebrate in her short career, with a career high of 48th in the world rankings, and a handful of runs to the third round of majors as well.
Perhaps the biggest win of her career came in 2022, dethroning the defending French Open champion Barbora Krejčíková and claiming her first and only top-ten win to date. The Czech star was ranked second in the world at the time.
