Emma Raducanu is ready to make her competitive comeback. The Brit, who has been absent from the tour since her third-round exit at Indian Wells in early March, has accepted a top-30 replacement spot at the WTA 500 Internationaux de Strasbourg, beginning May 19.
The former US Open champion endured a challenging stretch, sidelined by a post-viral illness that forced her to withdraw from four consecutive events: Miami, Linz, Madrid and Rome. "You feel drained, tired, no energy," she revealed. "It's difficult, and it lingered for quite a while."
Currently ranked 30th with a 7-7 record in 2026, Raducanu appears to have turned a corner. "I think I've really turned a corner and I feel so much better," she stated. She had traveled to Rome and practiced ahead of the Italian Open but ultimately decided she was not quite ready.
Strasbourg represents her final chance to find competitive rhythm before Roland-Garros, which begins on May 24. The WTA 500 draw features strong contenders including Ekaterina Alexandrova (world No. 14), Madison Keys and Leylah Fernandez.
This will be Raducanu's second appearance in Strasbourg, where she previously defeated Daria Kasatkina in the first round before falling to Danielle Collins in three sets. A successful return on the Alsatian clay would send an encouraging signal ahead of the Paris Grand Slam.
