Emma Raducanu revealed details about a recurring back injury that impacted her performance during her second-round loss to Danielle Collins at the 2025 Internationaux de Strasbourg on May 21, describing it as an “annoying” and “frustrating” issue that flared up during the match. In a post-match interview reported by Tennis World USA, Raducanu explained that she first felt back spasms mid-first set against Collins, though she managed to win it 6-4 with a strong serving display, including two aces and only six unforced errors. However, her condition worsened in the second set, where she fell 5-0 behind, prompting a medical timeout for treatment. “I was feeling my back from early on, maybe mid-first set,” she said. “It was difficult to push through that. The second set was pretty much a write-off. After I got some treatment, it was a little bit better, and I was able to be more competitive in the third set.”
Despite the treatment, Raducanu, ranked No. 43, couldn’t maintain her momentum, losing 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 in a 2-hour-20-minute battle, as Collins capitalized with aggressive play, breaking Raducanu twice to love in the decider. Raducanu noted the issue was not new, having felt discomfort during her first-round win over Daria Kasatkina (6-1, 6-3) on May 19. “It’s been bothering me since 2024… It’s annoying, it’s frustrating. I get these spasms. They are quite intense,” she told reporters, per SI.com. She remained hopeful, stating, “I will just try and make it better,” aiming to manage the injury for the French Open, starting May 25, 2025.
Raducanu’s decision to take a wildcard for Strasbourg was to gain clay-court experience after a fourth-round run at the Italian Open, but the back issue raises concerns, especially with a tough French Open draw against Wang Xinyu and potentially Iga Swiatek. Fans on X, like @TennisUpToDate2, echoed her optimism for recovery, while @TimesSport noted the injury’s timing as a concern. Despite the setback, Raducanu’s competitive third set, where she leveled at 3-3 after multiple deuces, showed resilience, though Collins’ dominance sealed the match.
