Emma Raducanu injury: Will Brit play at the French Open?

Emma Raducanu was forced to retire from her Italian Open first-round match against Bianca Andreescu after being hampered by yet another injury. 

Raducanu admitted to having problems with her back in Madrid last week and needed off-court treatment for the same issue against the Canadian in Rome. 

The 19-year-old trailed Andreescu 6-2 2-1 when she decided to retire hurt. 

This is the latest setback in a series of niggles that have plagued the teenager since her US Open win. 

With the French Open to come in just a couple of weeks, there are now questions concerning whether Raducanu will be fit in time for the second major of the year? 

Raducanu spoke at the start of the year about building up her physicality ahead of her first full year on the WTA Tour. 

However, her pre-season was impacted by contracting Covid-19 and she had limited time to work on her fitness before the season started. 

“We’ve talked about the lack of physical foundation but she hasn’t had the opportunity to put the work in away from tournament play,” said former British number one Tim Henman. 

Speaking to Amazon Prime, Henman expanded: “That’s the ideal scenario in November, December, when you don’t have tournaments. Unfortunately for Emma she got Covid, missed three and a half weeks and has been playing catch-up.”

Aside from her back problem, Raducanu has experienced troubles with blisters and had to bathe her feet in surgical spirit during Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup tie against the Czech Republic. 

The 19-year-old also retired in Mexico, after sustaining a left-hip injury against Daria Saville. 

Raducanu’s latest opponent, Andreescu, knows all to well how the Brit is feeling right now. 

The Canadian struggled with injuries herself after winning the