Emma Raducanu is set for a major test at the Italian Open, where she'll face a loaded draw and a potential blockbuster showdown with Naomi Osaka in one of the season's final clay-court WTA 1000 events. The tournament kicks off this week in Rome, with defending champion Jasmine Paolini looking to repeat last year's triumph over Coco Gauff.

For Raducanu, this marks her return to competitive action after a hand injury sidelined her since early March. The Briton has yet to play a single clay-court match this season, making her Rome campaign a crucial tune-up ahead of Roland Garros. But the path won't be easy.

Seeded 27th, Raducanu earned a first-round bye and will open against either a qualifier or Argentina's Solana Sierra. If she advances, a third-round meeting with world No. 3 Coco Gauff likely awaits—a daunting matchup given the American has won both of their previous encounters. Should she pull off the upset, rising star Iva Jovic, just 18 years old and already making waves, could be waiting in the wings.

The quarter is stacked with talent, including Mirra Andreeva, Elise Mertens, and Maya Joint, making this one of the toughest sections of the draw. But Raducanu has shown flashes of brilliance on clay before, reaching the fourth round in Rome last year—her best result at the tournament.

Speaking on Off Court with Greg, former US Open finalist Greg Rusedski offered an optimistic take: "Emma looked like she's striking it well. Fingers crossed this is the start of getting her momentum back. She hasn't played a match since Indian Wells—that's ages ago. Conditions are fast, and she looked good in practice. For all the Raducanu fans out there, this is a good week to start."

With big prize money on the line and a potential clash with Osaka looming, Raducanu's comeback in Rome is shaping up to be one of the most compelling storylines of the tournament.