Emma Raducanu was absolutely impressive in her opening match at the US Open as the British tennis star destroyed 130th-ranked qualifier Ena Shibahara 6-1 6-2 to clinch her first win at Flushing Meadows since 2021.
The Briton, who is ranked at No. 35 in the world and just missed out on a seeding in New York this year, got straight to business early on and broke the Japanese three times to easily bag the opener.
After dominating the first set, Raducanu kept with the same intensity at the start of the second set and took the opening four games, before serving out for a dominant straight-set win in the eighth game.
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During the match, the 2021 US Open champion impressively converted four of her seven break point chances, while saving the only break point she faced.
For the 22-year-old Briton - who wrote tennis history by becoming the first qualifier ever to win a Grand Slam - this was her first victory at Flushing Meadows since she defeated Leylah Fernandez in the final four years ago.
In the second round, Raducanu faces the winner of the match between No. 24 seed Veronika Kudermetova and qualifier Janice Tjen.
Raducanu said she was feeling 'happy and relaxed' going into this year's US Open
After picking up US Open first-round exits in 2022 and 2024, and not playing in 2023, Raducanu said things were different this time.
I think compared to four years ago, I feel relaxed, I feel happy, I feel in a way like the same off court in terms of just enjoying my tennis, enjoying practicing, enjoying competing, and the process of getting better. I think I feel the same in that sense," the tournament's 2021 champion said before the start of the US Open.
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But I am just more aware now of everything that is possible. When I won in 21, I guess about this world of potential negativity and bringing people down. Id say that kind of affected me a lot in the last few years. It still definitely gets me from time to time, but overall, I think I can enjoy what Im doing day to day a lot more. I have good people around."
Raducanu's confidence will certainly increase after her dominant opening win and that can never be a bad thing.
