Emma Raducanu suffered another back injury just days before the French Open and required medical assistance before she was defeated 4-6 6-1 6-3 by Danielle Collins. The Brit continued her impressive form on clay in Strasbourg before holding her back in the second set and taking a time-out from the match, then the pendulum swung back in her opponent's favour to win in two hours and 20 minutes.

Her American opponent appeared to turn the tide after Raducanu comfortably took the first set, only to be demolished in the second, and then left the court with assistance from her physio. She did return for the decider, however, and ultimately lost a very tense affair.

After a slow start which saw her miss out on the chance to break Collins’ serve in the opening game, Raducanu soon found her rhythm. She held her serve twice before racing into a 4-2 lead, with Collins eventually hitting back to put pressure on the Brit.

Raducanu, again, then held her serve before Collins battled her way to 5-4 after a drawn out game which headed to deuce. The British No.2 then put the set to bed with an aggressive point.

Collins returned in the second set with a fierce sense of belief, leaning on her wicked serve to change the momentum of the clash – asking numerous questions of Raducanu which the 22-year-old simply did not have the answer for.

The American broke both of Raducanu’s opening two serves and raised the tempo of the clash markedly, with her opponent noticeably moving slower across her backline. Whilst 4-0 down, Raducanu then called for a medical timeout at the next break in play, which came a matter of moments later once Collins had made it 5-0.

She was then spotted stretching her back, reigniting fears of the problem which ruled her out of the Australian Open. Raducanu was then led away by the medical team and returned a few minutes later, still appearing slightly uncomfortable and still nursing a problem. After being offered the glimmer of a hope, Collins claimed the second set 6-1.

Both players then raised their game for the final set, with Raducanu managing to draw more unforced errors out of her opponent to keep her chances alive.

A lengthy deuce took place in the fourth game, which felt increasingly pivotal as it went on, and was highlighted by the loud roar Collins let out as she eventually held serve.

But Raducanu broke back in the following tense game, shrugging off concerns about her back, though she was broken back to love as the American took hold of the match and saw out the victory.