Emma Raducanu returns to the circuit with a wildcard in Strasbourg.

Emma Raducanu is preparing for an explosive return to the WTA circuit after more than two months away from competition. The young British player, who has gone through a turbulent phase in 2026, has officially been invited to participate in the prestigious Internationaux de Strasbourg tournament, scheduled to take place from May 17 to 23. This event comes as Raducanu’s last opportunity to sharpen her game before the second Grand Slam of the year, Roland Garros, which begins immediately after the final in Strasbourg.

The year 2026 has been a true rollercoaster for Raducanu. Between injuries, illnesses, and changes in her coaching team, her performance has left much to be desired, far from the brilliance that led her to win the US Open. Now, with a wildcard secured for the French tournament, the 23-year-old tennis player wants to change the narrative and impress once again on the clay courts, where she will make her official debut this season.

Last year, Raducanu had already shown courage in Strasbourg, where, as a wildcard, she defeated former top 20 player Daria Kasatkina before being eliminated in the quarter-finals by American Danielle Collins. This year, the challenge promises to be even greater. The Internationaux de Strasbourg features prominent names, such as Marta Kostyuk, the Madrid Open champion who chose not to play in Rome, and Ekaterina Alexandrova, the tournament’s top seed. Victoria Mboko, a wildcard entrant, is the highest-ranked player, followed by Americans Iva Jovic and Madison Keys. Other dangerous opponents include Clara Tauson, Liudmila Samsonova, Leylah Fernandez, Marie Bouzkova, Emma Navarro, and Hailey Baptiste—all potential complicated obstacles in Raducanu’s path to the later stages.

The year for Raducanu started disappointingly. The British tennis player struggled with injuries during the United Cup, was eliminated early at the Hobart International, and did not advance past the second round of the Australian Open, where she was defeated by Anastasia Potapova. Nonetheless, she had a moment of glory by reaching the final of the Transylvania Open, her first final since winning the US Open in 2021, where she was defeated by local favorite Sorana Cirstea. However, a string of early-round losses in the WTA 1000 events in the Middle East, compounded by an illness, and an inconsistent performance at Indian Wells raised doubts about her physical and mental condition.

After withdrawing from the quarter-finals of the Miami Open and pulling out of tournaments in Linz and Madrid, many thought Raducanu would make an appearance in Rome, but her withdrawal once again surprised fans and experts. Now, with the confirmation of her participation in Strasbourg, the stage is set for the British player to win back her admirers and show that she is ready to fight for titles.

This return is crucial not only for Raducanu but for British tennis as a whole, which is going through a difficult period with the decline of young talent Jack Draper due to injuries. The hope is that Emma can not only regain her best form but also inspire new successes, starting with a solid campaign in Strasbourg and, who knows, a memorable performance at Roland Garros. So far, Raducanu has only participated twice in the French Grand Slam, being eliminated in the second round on both occasions (2022 and 2025), so the challenge is set.

With Andrew Richardson, the coach who guided her to the historic US Open title, by her side again, Raducanu seeks to turn the page and prove that 2026 can still be the year of her definitive breakthrough in world tennis. Strasbourg will be the stage for her return, and the world will be watching to see if the young British star can finally convert her potential into tangible results.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.