Emma Raducanu will make her return to competitive tennis against Diane Parry at the Internationaux de Strasbourg on Monday following a two-month absence with a post-viral illness.
The 23-year-old has not featured on the WTA Tour since her appearance at Indian Wells in early March.
Victory in her opening match against the Frenchwoman could set up a blockbuster second-round clash with former Australian Open champion Madison Keys.
This WTA 500 event serves as a crucial final opportunity to gain match fitness on clay before the French Open begins on 24 May.
Lingering effects of viral illness
The former US Open winner admitted she is still struggling to regain full energy after an extended period on the sidelines.
“Post-viral, it’s quite hard. You feel drained. You feel tired. No energy.”
“It’s difficult, and it lingered for quite a while. Right now, I wouldn’t say I’m 100 percent.”
She added that she is still building her way back and finding it challenging to maintain her stamina over extended periods.
Richardson reunion backed by Henman
The British number one will be accompanied in France by Andrew Richardson, having reappointed the coach who guided her to stunning success in New York five years ago.
She faced significant criticism for parting ways with him shortly after her 2021 triumph, initially citing a desire for a mentor with more tour-level experience.
“Grateful to have reconnected with someone who has known me for over a decade now and looking forward to building together one iteration at a time.”
Former Wimbledon semi-finalist Tim Henman has publicly supported the reunion ahead of a demanding summer schedule.
“I think it’s great that Andrew is back to support Emma and all I can say is I hope it lasts a bit longer.”
Competitive field assembles in France
The Strasbourg draw features a strong contingent of international talent alongside the returning British star.
Players competing for the clay-court title include Leylah Fernandez, Ekaterina Alexandrova, and rising American teenager Iva Jovic.
World number one Jannik Sinner holds a narrow advantage over Daniil Medvedev in a deciding set before rain forced the suspension of their compelling Italian Open semi-final.
The 24-year-old leaned heavily on his racquet for support and required a medical timeout for thigh treatment during a gruelling third set.
Despite these obvious physical issues, the top seed carved out a 6-2 5-7 4-2 lead before deteriorating weather pushed the match’s conclusion to Saturday.
Momentum swings in Rome
The home favourite initially looked poised to steamroller his opponent after imperiously racing into a 4-0 advantage to secure the opening set.
However, the resilient Russian capitalised on a noticeable drop in Sinner’s energy levels to establish a commanding 3-0 lead in the second set.
Sinner displayed tremendous grit to hold a lengthy fourth game, briefly preventing the match from slipping further away before breaking back.
Medvedev maintained relentless pressure and eventually converted a crucial break point while the Italian served to stay in the set.
This pivotal break marked the first dropped set for the world number one in this year’s tournament.
Record in sight as rain falls
Aiming to extend his remarkable record of ATP Masters 1000 victories to 33, Sinner dug deep to secure a vital break in the third game of the decider.
A long backhand from his opponent prompted a passionate roar from the Italian, but the looming storm ultimately halted proceedings.
In the opposite side of the draw, Casper Ruud emphatically booked his place in a maiden Italian Open final.
The Norwegian outclassed local hope Luciano Darderi with a comprehensive 6-1 6-1 triumph in another rain-interrupted encounter.
Speaking after his victory, Norway’s Ruud highlighted the importance of his tournament pedigree against a less experienced opponent.
“It’s my 10th semi-final I think in a Masters 1000 and it was his first so you try to use that experience to your advantage and I think I did that well today.”
Casper Ruud
“He was maybe a little bit stressed, a little bit nervous of the occasion, but I tried to stay focused and kind of in my own tunnel vision.”
Emma Raducanu has reunited with US Open-winning coach Andrew Richardson as she prepares to return to tennis in Strasbourg following a two-month illness absence.
The British number one famously claimed her maiden Grand Slam title in New York in 2021 under Richardson’s guidance.
She drew strong criticism for splitting with him shortly after that stunning triumph, citing a desire for a mentor with more WTA Tour experience.
Several years and multiple short-term coaching appointments later, the 23-year-old has once again turned to a trusted figure.
Familiar face returns ahead of Roland Garros
“Grateful to have reconnected with someone who has known me for over a decade now and looking forward to building together one iteration at a time.”
The renewed partnership begins immediately at the Internationaux de Strasbourg, where she has accepted a wild card entry.
This latest appointment continues a clear pattern of the former Flushing Meadows champion favouring familiar mentors she worked with prior to her rapid ascent to superstardom.
Richardson follows in the footsteps of previous returning coaches such as Nick Cavaday and Mark Petchey.
Battling illness and a rankings drop
Speculation over a permanent reunion intensified when the pair spent a week practising at the Ferrer Tennis Academy in Spain last month.
She had been without a full-time mentor since parting ways with Francisco Roig following the Australian Open earlier this year.
The tennis star has played only four tournaments since Melbourne, reaching a final in Romania in February before a virus derailed her season.
That lingering illness forced withdrawals from high-profile events in Miami, Linz, Madrid and Rome.
She is now seeking valuable clay-court experience in France to prepare for the upcoming French Open.
However, an expected drop to 37th in the world rankings next week means she will not be seeded at Roland Garros when the main draw begins on 24 May.
American tennis star Coco Gauff has delivered a brilliant performance to defeat Romania’s Sorana Cirstea and reach the Italian Open final in Rome.
The reigning US Open champion showcased her remarkable athleticism to overcome her experienced opponent on the famous clay courts of the Foro Italico.
She proved simply too good during the decisive moments of the contest, dictating play from the baseline with powerful and accurate groundstrokes.
Impressive clay-court form
This victory marks a significant milestone in the young Floridian’s clay-court season as she continues to build vital momentum ahead of the French Open.
The 20-year-old has consistently demonstrated exceptional defensive skills and counter-attacking prowess throughout her impressive run in the Italian capital.
Facing a seasoned competitor, the lightning-fast baseliner maintained total composure to secure her progression to the championship match.
Eyeing the Rome title
Reaching the final represents another major achievement in what is already shaping up to be a highly successful year for the talented American.
Her Romanian opponent fought valiantly but ultimately lacked the tactical answers required to disrupt the rhythm of the current world number three.
Attention now turns to the showpiece final where the dynamic right-hander will aim to capture one of the most prestigious trophies on the WTA Tour.
World number one Jannik Sinner has broken Novak Djokovic’s record by securing his 32nd consecutive ATP Masters 1000 victory after defeating Andrey Rublev to reach the Italian Open semi-finals in Rome.
The top seed delivered a dominant baseline performance to claim a routine 6-2 6-4 triumph over the former world number five.
He broke serve in the opening game for a third straight match, dictating the tempo and never relinquishing control against his Russian opponent.
Eclipsing a modern great
This remarkable winning streak at Masters level eclipses the previous benchmark set by 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic.
While the Serbian great has won every ATP Masters 1000 event twice over, Rome remains the only tournament at this elite tier still missing from Sinner’s expanding trophy cabinet.
The home favourite is now ideally positioned to become the first Italian man to triumph at the Foro Italico since Adriano Panatta achieved the feat in 1976.
Aiming for home glory
He suffered a painful final defeat in Rome last year against Carlos Alcaraz, who is currently absent from the tour with a right wrist injury.
The 24-year-old’s current unbeaten run extends back nearly four months, with his last defeat coming against Jakub Mensik at the Qatar Open in February.
His semi-final opponent will be either 2023 Rome champion Daniil Medvedev or Spanish qualifier Martin Landaluce.
Elsewhere at the tournament, the women’s semi-finals will see American star Coco Gauff take on Sorana Cirstea while top seed Iga Swiatek faces Elina Svitolina.
Poland’s Iga Swiatek has stormed into the Italian Open semi-finals after a ruthless 6-1 6-2 victory over American Jessica Pegula on Wednesday.
The 24-year-old needed little over an hour to dismantle the fifth seed on the Rome clay.
Dropping just three games against Naomi Osaka in the previous round laid down a clear marker for her rivals.
The manner in which the world number four swept aside Pegula served as yet another statement victory.
Regaining confidence under new coach Roig
Swiatek appointed Francisco Roig last month and is starting to regain the level which made her so feared on the surface.
The four-time French Open champion has also been leaning on 22-time major winner Rafael Nadal for advice on the practice courts.
“The stuff we did in the last [few] weeks has helped and I have a lot of confidence in my shots,” Swiatek said.
Going back to basics with Roig appears to have restored her self-belief after a turbulent period.
Ominous signs for Roland Garros rivals
Known as the ‘Queen of Clay’, the Polish star won four titles in Paris between 2020 and 2024.
She lost her invincibility on the red dirt last year after tweaking her playing style under previous coach Wim Fissette.
Fissette tried to implement a more aggressive baseline approach, which ultimately caused her to become ragged when matches went against her.
Against Pegula, the returning clay-court specialist played with the high intensity and relentlessness demanded by her new coaching setup.
Setting up a blockbuster semi-final
Swamping the 2024 US Open finalist’s second serve with deep returning was a notable feature of Wednesday’s quarter-final clash.
Playing with more patience and a higher margin for error allowed her to draw consistent mistakes from her American opponent.
Tougher challenges will surely lie ahead in the Italian capital.
Either Kazakhstani second seed Elena Rybakina or Ukraine’s seventh seed Elina Svitolina await the resurgent star in the final four.
World number one Jannik Sinner equalled Novak Djokovic’s record of 31 consecutive Masters 1000 victories by reaching the Italian Open quarter-finals, while second seed Alexander Zverev suffered a shock defeat.
The home favourite comfortably dispatched Italian qualifier Andrea Pellegrino 6-2 6-3 at the Foro Italico.
The top seed has already set a new benchmark by winning a fifth straight Masters tournament in Madrid last weekend.
He is now bidding to become only the second player in history to win all nine current Masters 1000 events on the ATP Tour.
The dominant Italian has dropped merely two sets since suffering his most recent defeat against Jakub Mensik in February.
Zverev blasts ‘worst court ever’
While the world number one flourished, Germany’s second seed collapsed to a remarkable defeat against 18th seed Luciano Darderi.
The Italian underdog fought back from a set and 5-3 down, saving four match points to triumph 1-6 7-6 (10) 6-0.
The vanquished Olympic champion was furious with the playing conditions in the Italian capital following his dramatic exit.
I think this is the worst court I’ve ever played on.
Juniors, professional, futures, practice, I never played on a court where the court quality is that bad. I have match point and the ball jumps over my head. I have break point, the ball rolls.
Jodar achieves rare teenage milestone
Darderi advances to face 19-year-old Spaniard Rafael Jodar, who continued his stunning breakout season by dispatching Learner Tien 6-1 6-4.
The rising star becomes the first teenager to reach the men’s quarter-finals in Rome since Djokovic achieved the feat in 2007.
Elsewhere in the men’s draw, Norwegian specialist Casper Ruud eliminated Italian eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti in a notable upset.
In the women’s tournament, veteran Romanian Sorana Cirstea maintained her excellent form to reach the semi-finals.
The unseeded competitor, who previously eliminated world number one Aryna Sabalenka, comfortably defeated Jelena Ostapenko 6-1 7-6 (0).
Iga Swiatek dismantled Naomi Osaka to reach the Italian Open quarter-finals on Monday, while home favourite Jannik Sinner moved a step closer to a historic career Golden Masters.
The Polish world number three dispatched four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka 6-2 6-1 in just one hour and 22 minutes on the Rome clay.
Osaka initially recovered from an early break to level the opening set at 2-2, but was quickly overwhelmed by her opponent’s relentless baseline power.
Winning the next four games seamlessly, the top seed secured the first set before breaking twice in the second to complete a comprehensive victory.
Resurgent Swiatek targets Roman revival
Prior to arriving in the Italian capital, the Warsaw-born star had not tasted victory on clay since her triumph at the French Open in 2024.
She will now face American fifth seed Jessica Pegula in the last eight.
This recent surge in form follows a significant change to her coaching setup earlier this year.
Following a disappointing second-round exit at the Australian Open in January, she parted ways with Wim Fissette to hire Francisco Roig.
The Spanish coach brings immense pedigree to her camp, having previously worked alongside Rafael Nadal and Emma Raducanu.
Sinner closes in on ATP history
In the men’s draw, Sinner claimed his 30th consecutive Masters 1000 victory to thrill the passionate home crowd.
The Italian crushed Australia’s Alexei Popyrin 6-2 6-0 to easily progress to the round of 16.
He is now aiming to join Novak Djokovic as only the second male player to sweep all nine ATP 1000 events.
The 24-year-old remains undefeated since last October’s Shanghai Masters, an astonishing streak that includes the recent Madrid Open title.
Rome remains the only Masters tournament missing from his illustrious trophy cabinet.
He will face compatriot Andrea Pellegrino next, following the wildcard’s impressive victory over American Frances Tiafoe.
“It’s been a very special tournament for me, starting with a wildcard back in the day,” Sinner said.