Emma Raducanu’s participation in the 2025 French Open is in jeopardy as she battles a recurring back spasm. The British star, who had been showing promising form on clay this season, is now in a race against time to recover for the tournament, which begins May 25th.
Back Spasms Return at an Inopportune Moment
Raducanu’s back issues resurfaced during her match against Danielle Collins at the Strasbourg Grand Prix, where she struggled with painful spasms that ultimately contributed to her defeat. The 22-year-old has been candid about her condition, admitting that she is “not feeling 100%” just days before her scheduled first-round match at Roland Garros.
“It’s not feeling 100%,” Raducanu said when asked about her fitness. “I had a spasm in Strasbourg, and [I’ve] just been trying to manage it as best I can, doing treatment.”
This setback is particularly frustrating for Raducanu, considering her solid performance on clay this year. After opting out of the French Open in 2024, she returned to the surface in 2025 with notable wins at both the Madrid Open and Italian Open. Her confidence and form had been steadily improving, making her a player to watch at Roland Garros.
Intensive Treatment and Overcoming Phobias
Despite the physical setback, Raducanu is doing everything in her power to stay in contention for Paris. She has been receiving intensive treatment, including dry needling – an approach she initially feared but now embraces due to its effectiveness.
“I’ve been on the practice court last night and this morning. Yeah, it felt okay, but obviously it’s different playing a match,” she explained. “I feel like this one I kind of caught before it fully locked up.”
Raducanu has even confronted her intense fear of needles to receive acupuncture treatment, recognizing its remarkable benefits. “At the start of the year, I was so scared of needles. It was my biggest phobia,” she confessed. “That was the only way I was going to be able to play Australia. So since then, I’ve been kind of dipping my toes into it because I know it helps, even though I’m really scared of them. That’s how I’ve been trying to manage it.”
A Promising Clay Season in Limbo
Raducanu’s strong clay season has been a welcome return to form after a challenging period marked by injuries and surgeries. After undergoing wrist and ankle surgeries in 2023, she has steadily climbed back into the world’s top 50.
“I think I’m happy to have put some more time in on the clay this year,” she said, expressing satisfaction with her recent progress. “I think last year and the years before I probably would have, now looking back, preferred to have done more on the clay so that this year it didn’t necessarily feel brand new and just have more time on it, more experience banked.”
Her improved resilience and focus on listening to her body have also been key factors in her progress. “I just kept pushing through because people were telling me I wasn’t tough enough, like I need to just work through it,” Raducanu added. “Like it’s normal I’m feeling fatigued because I’m training so much, when in reality I knew there was pain, and I knew it kind of felt more than just soreness.”
French Open Draw and Potential Matchups
Despite the injury concerns, Raducanu is currently scheduled to face China’s Wang Xinyu in the first round of the French Open. If she wins, she could face a daunting second-round match against three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek.
Other potential opponents in her path include Marta Kostyuk in the third round and Elena Rybakina or Jelena Ostapenko in the fourth round. Her likely quarterfinal opponents could include Elina Svitolina and Jasmine Paolini.
Raducanu has only made one previous main draw appearance at the French Open, losing in the second round in 2022. She will be aiming to deliver a stronger performance at Roland Garros this year, especially after taking pride in her improvement on clay.
Focus on Recovery and Future Plans
Raducanu’s team will be closely monitoring her condition in the coming days to determine her readiness for the French Open. If she is unable to compete in Paris, she is expected to be one of the headline acts at the upcoming WTA 500 Queen’s Club event in London next month.
With the grass season around the corner, she may be forced to pivot her focus, but the potential loss of her presence in Paris will surely be felt.
Raducanu’s 2025 Season So Far
After missing almost all of 2023 with multiple injuries, Raducanu has had a mixed season in 2025. She was forced to withdraw from the ASB Classic due to a similar back spasm but has also achieved some notable results, including reaching the quarter-finals in Miami.
Her current WTA ranking is 43, and she has a 12-10 win-loss record for the year.
Overcoming Challenges and Looking Ahead
Emma Raducanu’s journey since her historic US Open victory in 2021 has been marked by challenges, including injuries, coaching changes, and the pressure of expectations. However, she has shown resilience and determination in her efforts to return to her best form.
Whether she is able to compete at the French Open or not, Raducanu remains a player with immense potential, and her fans will be eagerly awaiting her return to the court.
Prize Money at the French Open 2025
- Winner: £2,166,912
- Runner-up: £1,083,456
- Semi-final: £586,341
- Quarter-final: £373,898
- Round 16: £225,189
- Round 32: £142,761
- Round 64: £99,423
- Round 128: £66,282
Key Takeaways
- Emma Raducanu is battling a back spasm ahead of the French Open 2025.
- She is undergoing intensive treatment, including dry needling and heat therapy.
- Raducanu has overcome her phobia of needles to receive acupuncture.
- Her participation in the French Open is uncertain, but she is doing everything possible to recover.
- She is scheduled to face Wang Xinyu in the first round, with a potential second-round match against Iga Swiatek.
- Raducanu has had a promising clay season, with notable wins at the Madrid Open and Italian Open.
- Injuries have been a major challenge in her career, but she has shown resilience in her comeback efforts.
- If she is unable to compete in Paris, she is expected to play at the WTA 500 Queen’s Club event in London.
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