Emma Raducanu seemingly sets next move after Strasbourg withdrawal ahead of Roland Garros

Emma Raducanu will not play at the Internationaux de Strasbourg next week in a blow to a tournament that is also unlikely to include Jessica Pegula either. But for the former, it is a likely hint at her next plans.

Raducanu was due to play the tournament which begins on May 20 and in the same week as the French Open qualifying. The former US Open champion signed up for both as a safety blanket. She initially just needed a few withdrawals to play Roland Garros.

But is unlikely to leave that to chance with four needed and the current state of certain players uncertain. Jessica Pegula, Karolina Pliskova as well as Jodie Burrage, Alison van Uytvanck and even Bianca Andreescu depending on Rabat next week are among those who could yet withdraw.

This route worked for the Brit during the Australian Open. But it seems that unlike Rome where she didn't get her required wildcard after withdrawing from qualifying, she isn't doing the same in Paris. Spots are likely to be filled by French players, an American and an Australian due to reciprocal agreements.

Simona Halep and Caroline Wozniacki as former World No.1's would also more likely get spots in the main draw too over Raducanu if there is any spare wildcards. The former being a former champion and the latter being a legend of the game.

Albeit she has shown disdain seemingly to playing qualifying by not entering any tournaments through this route in recent months. This includes Roland Garros. So it will be the waiting game continuing for Raducanu. She will now head to Paris and await whether she gets in through alternates. Or whether she has to play qualifying next week.

Some called the move to withdraw from Strasbourg puzzling with others quipping that Paula Badosa is playing Rabat and getting matches in. As well as Simona Halep who also plays this week in France at a WTA 125k. But Badosa gets in through protected ranking anyway. So she won't need to play qualifying. While Raducanu if not through the alternate route will have to miss Roland Garros.

It is very much likely that she will get the required withdrawals. But entering Strasbourg in the first place was either going to pay off or just not be the right move. It seems to be the latter. Albeit she has not played since the Madrid Open. She lost very early to Maria Lourdes Carle.

She looked off the pace compared to her runs in Stuttgart and also the Billie Jean King Cup and wasn't herself. But it is another stop start juncture as Raducanu hasn't had a sustained run since returning from injury. Glimmers of getting back to her best but also not sustained enough to follow it through. The grass court season with wildcards aplenty will likely be her next route.

If any ranking rise happens too she won't even need to enter qualifying which will be good for not relying on Wimbledon wildcards. As well as her return to Flushing Meadows, the site of her 2021 triumph.