Raducanu Falls to Parry in Strasbourg Open Return After Illness

Emma Raducanu’s return to competition after more than two months ended in a frustrating 6-4, 7-6 (4) loss to France’s Diane Parry in the first round of the Strasbourg Open on Tuesday.

Raducanu, ranked 37th in the WTA standings, struggled to convert early opportunities and was outplayed by Parry, a world No. 94 clay-court specialist who dominated with her forehand and used variety to keep the Briton off balance.

The 22-year-old had been sidelined since early March with a post-viral illness that also affected her during the Middle East swing in February. She considered returning at the Italian Open two weeks ago but withdrew after training on site.

This week marks Raducanu’s first tournament since rehiring Andrew Richardson as her coach. They trained together on clay at the Ferrer academy in La Nucia, Spain, during her recovery. Richardson was vocal from the player box, offering strategic advice and encouragement throughout the match.

Richardson and Raducanu last shared a match court when they celebrated her stunning US Open title in 2021 after working together for less than two months. This reunion, however, offers no instant magic; the key question is whether they can maintain continuity after a career disrupted by injuries and coaching changes.

Raducanu built 4-2 leads in both sets but faltered due to poor serving. She lost four consecutive games to drop the opening set, then three in a row to trail 5-4 in the second.

Fighting to stay in the match, Raducanu saved a match point when Parry served at 5-4 in the second set, forcing a tie-break by stepping inside the baseline and taking her forehand early. But she could not sustain the momentum.

Parry, once known for a single-handed backhand but now employing a two-hander, used her heavy topspin forehand and variety to drag Raducanu off the court and keep the ball out of her strike zone.

Despite late resistance from Raducanu, Parry’s clay-court expertise proved decisive in tight moments as she closed out a well-deserved straight-sets victory.