Emma Raducanu stands by decision to return on clay rather than wait for grass
By Eleanor Crooks, Press Association Tennis Correspondent, Paris
The tears that unexpectedly welled up in Emma Raducanu’s eyes following another difficult loss gave a glimpse into how heavily the last few years have weighed on her.
The 23-year-old had been downbeat but philosophical about a 6-0 7-6 (4) defeat against Solana Sierra in the first round of the French Open when she was asked about the trajectory her career has taken since the stars aligned in New York five years ago.
Resilience was the word Raducanu settled on as she fought to control her emotions, and she will need to show more of that as she battles to find form again on the grass.
Not the ending we wanted, but definitely not the end of the story.
Emma, we rise together. pic.twitter.com/uTv1emi8Uv— UNIQLO_Ambassadors (@UQAmbassadors) May 25, 2026
It has once again been a stop-start season for the former US Open champion, who began the year battling a foot injury and then picked up a virus in early February that turned into a post-viral illness.
She spent two-and-a-half months away from the tour and the rust was clear as she struggled to find the court for a set and a half against Argentinian Sierra before at least clawing her way back into the match.
Raducanu had wanted to test herself on clay rather than move straight to preparing for grass, and it was a decision she stood by despite the outcome.
“I think I’ve been practising well but it’s been five, six weeks after two months off,” she said. “It was going to be a big ask coming in. I really wanted to play the French, so that was my decision.
“I stand by it, because I think I got to experience a grand slam. I never want to miss it. I think I competed as well as I could in the second set with what I had.”
That Raducanu is still battling a lingering cough nearly four months after first becoming unwell is clearly a concern, and she would certainly have wanted to head into her most high-profile stretch of the season with confidence levels higher.
The British number one also has ranking points to defend having reached the quarter-finals of the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club last year and the third round of Wimbledon, where she pushed world number one Aryna Sabalenka.
The optimism surrounding her trajectory then has dissipated significantly in the intervening months and a seeding at the All England Club looks hugely unlikely, meaning Raducanu will be at the mercy of the draw.
The good news is that grass suits her game much more than clay, with Raducanu’s ability to take the ball early, particularly on return, earning greater rewards from the faster, lower-bouncing surface and compensating for her lack of power.
Her split from coach Francisco Roig following the Australian Open came after she made it very clear she did not agree with the direction in which he was trying to take her game.
Raducanu wants to get back back to the aggressive, first-strike style that brought her so much success at the start of her career, and she appears to have the perfect person in her corner again having rehired her US Open-winning coach Andrew Richardson.
Her next tournament is set to be at Queen’s beginning on June 8, while she has also entered events in Berlin and Eastbourne the following two weeks but may well not play both.
“I’m looking forward to getting back on home soil, for sure,” said Raducanu. “Queen’s is always an amazing tournament, so I’m looking forward to starting there. Afterwards, I don’t know, it depends how it goes.”
