EMMA RADUCANU’S return after a two-month absence fell flat as she was beaten in straight sets by Diane Parry in the first round of the Internationaux de Strasbourg today.

The 23-year-old gave up breaks in both sets to lose 6-4 7-6 (4) to the French world number 94, a defeat that means she will head into this month’s French Open with just one clay-court match under her belt.

Raducanu’s topsy-turvy year — in which she reached her first WTA final in five years at the Transylvania Open, but also suffered two first-round defeats — was put on hold by a post-viral illness in the wake of her third-round loss at Indian Wells in early March.

Her link-up with Andrew Richardson, the coach who masterminded her astonishing 2021 US Open triumph, looked to have paid dividends as she fashioned a 4-2 lead against Parry, but the Briton was broken back immediately and her 23-year-old opponent went on to secure a further break and take the set.

Raducanu again went 4-2 up in the second set but was broken back, and after a further exchange of breaks the set headed into a tie-break, where two Raducanu errors contributed to Parry sealing victory.