Emma Raducanu has been knocked out of the Strasbourg Open, having lost to Danielle Collins in the Round of 16.
Despite taking the opening set, the Brit was blown away in the second before failing to convert a slew of break points in the third which proved costly.
However, perhaps more importantly than her inability to take control of the game was her medical timeout in the second set.
Forced to take a significant leave of absence from court, she returned reenergised but not completely recovered.
Emma Raducanu provides injury update after Strasbourg Open defeat
Speaking at her post-match press conference for the Strasbourg Open, naturally her fitness was the main focus.
After all, at the end of a second set where she was blown away by Collins, the 22-year-old was forced to endure a lengthy medical timeout whilst the physio worked on her lower back.
She came back out fighting, winning the next game and pushing her opponent hard in a tough third set before falling to defeat.
Little did the fans know the extent of her injury, which she has since revealed: ‘Well, I felt it after the first round and then yesterday I just tried to manage it. I got treatment but, I mean I was pretty stiff and sore.
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‘I’ve had bad back problems before, at the start of the year I was out for like a few months because of it. Yeah, it’s annoying, it’s frustrating.
‘I get these spasms and they’re quite intense and can last quite a long time. I’ll just try to make it better.’
Danielle Collins rated Raducanu’s performance after the match, complimenting her opponent.
Emma Raducanu seems well prepared for Roland Garros
Although injury may well scupper her time in the French capital, few can argue with Raducanu’s preparation for Roland Garros this year.
After all, she has played plenty of games, raising her ranking to world number 43 whilst challenging some of the WTA’s top players.
Starting off in Madrid, she won her opening match only to lose against Marta Kostyuk despite taking the opening set.
Then, in Rome, Raducanu won three straight matches before coming unstuck against eventual finalist Coco Gauff.
Finally, in Strasbourg, the 2021 US Open champion recorded an impressive result against Daria Kasatkina before narrowly losing to Collins yesterday.
Were it not for this fresh injury news, Raducanu would arguably be perfectly poised for Paris.
