Emma Raducanu made a really spectacular begin to her US Open marketing campaign as she surged previous Japanese qualifier Ena Shibahara 6-1 6-2 in simply over an hour to achieve the second spherical on opening Sunday.
The British No 1 sealed her first victory at Flushing Meadows since profitable the event as an 18-year-old in 2021.
Watched on by her new skilled Spanish coach Francisco Roig, who labored with Rafael Nadal for twenty years, Raducanu wasted little time in sweeping previous the world No 128 with a high quality efficiency in simply 62 minutes on Louis Armstrong Stadium.
A lot stiffer assessments will await however this was the perfect begin for Raducanu, who mentioned: “Of course I’m very, very pleased with that match. It’s my first win here since 2021. I’m just so happy with the way I came through that.
“I am simply very happy with how I managed myself, managed my recreation by way of that match.”
Raducanu desires to maintain constructing momentum, and is sensing that together with her revamped teaching workforce.
“I’m very happy. I’ve got amazing people in my corner over there. I want to thank them,” she mentioned.
“It makes every day of the work feel a lot more enjoyable, pleasurable and I see the progress I’m making on the practice court.
“It won’t come right away however I do know over time I am simply racking up good days, constructing and I really feel prefer it has to go someplace.”
How Raducanu made it by way of to the second spherical…
Raducanu solely missed out on a seeding by one place and shortly stamped her authority on proceedings towards 128th-ranked Shibahara, who at 27 was enjoying in simply her second essential singles draw at a significant.
The gusty situations made it troublesome for each ladies however Raducanu was a lot the steadier, starting the competition with an ace and shifting right into a 5-0 lead.
The 22-year-old served out the opening set after Shibahara had lastly received a recreation after which moved 4-0 forward
once more within the second.
Shibahara had one probability to drag the lead again to 4-2 with a break level however Raducanu impressively picked up a brief volley, pumping her fist and yelling when her opponent netted a backhand, and he or she served out the competition to like.
Henman: Raducanu stamped her authority
Sky Sports activities’ Tim Henman:
“If you were going to write that script before you go out for the first round of a Grand Slam of how you want that match to go, that was ideal.
“There have been a couple of tight video games that Raducanu was in a position to come by way of.
“She stamped her authority so well at the beginning of the first and second set. She gave her opponent no time to settle in. Raducanu was a class apart.
“A Sunday begin just isn’t straightforward, so the nerves would have been there however Raducanu handled it extraordinarily properly.”
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Talking forward of the US Open, Raducanu urged she wasn’t prepared for the ‘world of negativity’ that her win in 2021 would create however claims she’s now relaxed and completely satisfied
Navratilova: Raducanu enjoying with pleasure
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Martina Navratilova was impressed with Raducanu’s tennis IQ throughout her opening match in New York
Sky Sports activities’ Martina Navratilova:
“Emma played like the defending champion that she was.
“She didn’t play like an individual who hadn’t received match right here in three years.
“She only had seven winners but only six unforced errors. So a solid performance. Shibahara hit a lot of winners, but [Raducanu] also let her make a lot of mistakes.
“She was enjoying with pleasure. I do not know if she was profitable as a result of she’s completely satisfied or completely satisfied as a result of she’s profitable however the two go hand in hand and it reveals on the court docket.”
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Laura Robson analyses Raducanu’s serve main into the US Open the place she is working with new coach Francisco Roig
Bartoli: Raducanu getting near high gamers
Sky Sports activities’ Marion Bartoli:
“The two matches she had against Aryna Sabalenka at Wimbledon and Cincinnati, she lost but was so close to winning against the number one in the world.
“It reveals how shut she’s attending to the highest gamers.”
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