Emma Raducanu eliminated in first round of Strasbourg by Diane Parry as French Open warm-up stutters

The Briton had been off the WTA tour for a two-month spell after a post-viral illness kept her out following a third-round loss at Indian Wells in March, against Amanda Anisimova.

Raducanu had been given a wildcard entry to the event in Strasbourg as the 23-year-old prepares for the upcoming French Open at Roland-Garros with the first round proper beginning this Sunday, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max, though qualifying is already underway.

The elimination is a blow for the former US Open champion, who will have played just a single match on clay as she prepares for the change in surface after a spell on hard courts.

Now back with her former coach Andrew Richardson, Raducanu lost to 23-year-old Parry 6-4 7-6 (7-4) as the home country’s player came out on top of their first-round match, setting up a last-16 tie with China’s Zhang Shuai on Wednesday.

Shuai defeated Spain's Cristina Bucsa 2-6 7-6 (9-7) 7-5.

It was with Richardson that Raducanu won the US Open in 2021, though she has struggled with injury and form since then.

Raducanu had not played on the tour for 10 weeks, which has seen her drop down the rankings from No. 23 to 37th, which means she will not be given a seeding at the upcoming Grand Slam in Paris.

She started brightly on Tuesday, moving into a 4-2 lead after breaking Parry, but she found it hard to serve consistently and double faults allowed her opponent to break back and claim the first set.

Raducanu was on the back foot as she had to fend off five break points early in the second set, but Parry broke her twice to go 5-4 clear, though Raducanu rallied to take the decisive set to a tie-break.

Parry held her nerve to claim the win, sending the British player out after a brief initial appearance in France for the season.

Former British men’s tennis No. 1 Tim Henman had earlier issued a warning to be circumspect over what to expect from Raducanu so soon into her comeback, particularly on a surface she does not prefer.

”I think Emma, and we to a certain extent, need to be patient. She hasn't played for quite some time, coming back from illness and injury is not easy," he told TNT Sports.

”She's on her least favourite surface [clay], so my expectations are pretty low for Strasbourg and Roland-Garros. Coming back onto the grass, that's a much more comfortable surface, but we appreciate the spotlight's going to be pretty intense,” he said.

Former British No.1 Laura Robson agreed, telling British tennis fans to measure their initial expectations.

She added: ”I feel like she's going to have no expectations and I don't feel like anyone supporting her or watching her should have any expectations as well.”

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TNT Sports is the exclusive French Open broadcaster in the UK and Ireland. Coverage of every court will be available to stream live on HBO Max