Emma Raducanu is set to return to competition this week at the WTA 500 Internationaux de Strasbourg, giving the former U.S. Open champion one final chance to test her body and clay-court game before Roland Garros.
Raducanu, who has not played since Indian Wells in early March, opens against France’s Diane Parry on Monday. If she advances, a second-round meeting with Madison Keys could follow, creating one of the most eye-catching early matches of the tournament. Sky Sports lists Raducanu’s projected path as Parry in the first round, then Keys or Cristina Bucsa in round two.
The Strasbourg event marks Raducanu’s first clay tournament of 2026 and comes after more than two months away from the tour because of lingering post-viral symptoms. She had been expected to return earlier in the clay swing but withdrew from multiple events, including the Italian Open in Rome. The WTA said Raducanu accepted a Top 30 replacement spot in Strasbourg, where the field includes Ekaterina Alexandrova, Iva Jovic and Keys.
Final French Open Tune-Up
Strasbourg runs from May 17 to May 23 on outdoor clay, one week before the French Open begins on May 24. The WTA 500 tournament has a 28-player singles draw and has become a valuable late stop for players trying to sharpen match rhythm before Paris.
For Raducanu, the stakes are less about title pressure and more about readiness. Clay has not been the surface most associated with her best results, but this week gives her a rare chance to build timing, fitness and confidence before entering the French Open.
Raducanu admitted in Rome that the illness had left her short of full strength, saying post-viral symptoms made her feel drained and low on energy. “Right now, I wouldn’t say I’m 100 percent. I’m still building my way back,” she told reporters.
Keys Match Would Raise the Stakes
A possible second-round meeting with Keys would instantly change the tone of Raducanu’s Strasbourg campaign. Keys, a former Australian Open champion and the No. 5 seed in Strasbourg, brings the kind of power game that can expose any rust in a returning player.
For Raducanu, even getting through the first round would be significant. She has played only sparingly this season, with the WTA listing her at 7-7 for the year and her best result a run to the final at the Transylvania Open in Cluj-Napoca.
The British No. 1 also arrives with a familiar face back in her team. Raducanu has reappointed Andrew Richardson, the coach who guided her during her 2021 U.S. Open title run, adding another storyline to her return ahead of a demanding summer that includes Roland Garros, the grass-court swing and Wimbledon.
Strasbourg may not define Raducanu’s season, but it should offer the clearest reading yet of where she stands physically. If she beats Parry and earns a shot at Keys, the tournament could quickly become more than a tune-up. It could become the first serious test of her French Open preparation.
