There were concerns Raducanu would not be available for the qualifiers following her withdrawal from last month's Miami Open with a lower back injury.

But there were no signs of injuries as she produced two gritty comebacks in Le Portel.

Against strong-server Garcia, Raducanu matched her opponent for aces, while she withstood a late surge from Parry after missing two match points.

"Tennis-wise I have improved because I feel like I am playing the best tennis of my career and my life," Raducanu said.

"To come through the moments that I did the last two days it took a strong character when the whole stadium is pretty much against you."

After an injury-disrupted 2023 season, it was an achievement in itself that Raducanu managed to stay fit for two three-set matches.

Still on her comeback journey from wrist and ankle surgeries, impressive wins against top 50 players on an unfamiliar clay surface provides a promising glimpse of what is to come from the 2021 US Open champion.

"I thought Emma today showed real star quality with her performance," Keothavong added.

"She was able to regroup after the initial disappointment. It was just amazing."