BREAKING NEWS: Emma Raducanu confirms she IS fit to play in the French Open after retiring injured in the first round of the Italian Open with lower back pain
- Emma Raducanu is now gearing up for her first senior French Open appearance
- The 19-year-old US Open champion responded well to treatment on her back
- She will play a qualifier in the opening round of the tournament at Roland Garros
Emma Raducanu has declared herself fit for next week’s French Open after having to retire at her previous tournament.
The US Open champion has responded well to treatment, having pulled out of her first round at the Italian Open eleven days ago with lower back problems.
She has been practising at Roland Garros, where she has only played once before, in the juniors four years ago.
Emma Raducanu is fit to compete in the French Open after an injury scare last week
Raducanu admitted she had felt fearful over whether she would be playing in the French Open
Injury had forced Raducanu into a first round retirement at the Italian Open in Rome
‘I’m learning about my body, for sure, and I’m very happy to be continuing my preparations for the French Open and to be able to play this tournament,’ said Raducanu, who had initially feared for her participation.
‘It was definitely thrown into question. But at the end of the day I’m just learning, feeling it out. I got the all clear to continue with preparations and see how things go.
‘Last week after Rome I definitely had to slow down that week, but this week I have been training and luckily being able to practice all of the shots.
‘It feels good to be able to move freely and just like run around. You know, it’s quite fun.’
Raducanu has enjoyed an impressive adaption to life on clay in her first full season on tour
The US Open champion has been practicing at Roland Garros in her first season on clay
In her first ever season tackling the complexities of clay court tennis Raducanu has collected a respectable 5-4 match record, and will play a qualifier in the first round in Paris.
The identity of her opponent may be delayed due to torrential rain in the French capital on Friday halting the preliminary rounds.
‘I think that I have definitely come a long way and probably progressed faster than expected of myself in the last few weeks and I really am enjoying the clay,’ she said.