Emma Raducanu continued the successful feeling by sealing a cushty victory in her opening match of the Nationwide Financial institution Open in Montreal on Monday.
She picked up assertion wins over Marta Kostyuk, four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka and former world No 3 Maria Sakkari en-route to the ultimate 4 in Washington final week and he or she continued the feel-good issue on the WTA 1000 match in Canada.
Raducanu, who jumped 13 locations within the rankings to world No 33 to reclaim her place as British No 1, eased previous Elena-Gabriela Ruse from Romania 6-2 6-4 in entrance of coach Mark Petchey after their partnership was left up within the air following her Wimbledon third-round defeat.
Raducanu, who will subsequent face American thirty second seed Peyton Stearns within the second spherical, mentioned: “I’m so happy to come through that. I know Elena, she’s a very good friend of mine, and it’s difficult when you have to play someone you’re close to, so I’m really proud of how I put that to one side for the match and backed up a good week last week in DC and performed well today.
“It is extraordinarily troublesome [to play someone you know]. We spent loads of time collectively in off-court practices, and he or she’s an incredible lady. It isn’t good whenever you see her title within the draw however I am actually happy with how I carried out with myself.”
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Raducanu was happy after overcoming good pal in her opening match on the Nationwide Financial institution Open in Montreal
Raducanu flew from Washington to Montreal on Sunday night time and instantly confronted 5 break factors in her first service recreation.
However in additional scorching and humid situations in Canada, Raducanu confirmed her resilience and leaned on her improved serve to assert a vital maintain earlier than extra points had been forthcoming in her subsequent service recreation.
After Raducanu once more survived, having been taken to deuce, she sensed her second and was in a position to break Ruse to maneuver 3-2 up after the Romanian despatched down two double-faults.
It sparked a run of six consecutive video games for Raducanu as she clinched the opener by a 6-2 rating, however an early break in the beginning of the second set was adopted by a direct response from Ruse.
Whereas Raducanu compelled extra break factors on Ruse’s serve, it was not till the seventh recreation of set two that the 2021 US Open champion broke once more to maneuver 4-3 forward.
It began a run of three consecutive breaks earlier than Raducanu stored her cool to shut out victory on the first time of asking on serve after a demanding one-hour-and-37-minute battle in entrance of delighted coach Petchey.
It was a sixth win in her final eight matches, whereas she is now 4-0 towards Romanian gamers in tour-level main-draw matches.
Talking to Sky Sports activities, Billie Jean King Cup captain Anne Keothavong mentioned: “That’s a performance she should feel proud of. Tidy tennis and she played very much within herself.
“I do really feel like she’s bought a number of extra gears to go if wanted, however she is thru to the second spherical.”
Miles Maclagan, Andy Murray’s former coach, said: “That may be a good win. It is at all times spectacular whenever you comply with up a great week. It is robust to get going after some emotional highs.
“From conditions which are slower in Washington to these courts, which are quicker, generally a little less humid but not today.”
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