Raducanu eases past Shibahara to end painful run in New York

Four years after three life-changing weeks in New York, Emma Raducanu overcame a significant mental hurdle as she secured her first victory at the US Open since her 2021 title run in impressive fashion, dismantling the qualifier Ena Shibahara 6-1, 6-2 to finally return to the second round.

- Tumaini Carayol

After first-round defeats by Alizé Cornet and Sofia Kenin, plus a withdrawal in 2023 during an eight-month injury layoff, Raducanu showed her growth and newfound self-assurance by putting together a solid performance against an inferior opponent.

"It has been on my mind," Raducanu said of her inability to win a match in New York. "It's been four years, and it's a very special tournament for me. I did feel different coming into it this year. I felt like I was doing the right things day to day, but still, it's in the back of your head. So I'm just very pleased to have overcome that."

With the victory, the British No 1 is now 20-4 against lower-ranked players over the past year and her ability to consistently win favourable match-ups has been a key part of her steady rise up the rankings. She will next face either the 24th seed, Veronika Kudermetova, or Janice Tjen, a qualifier.

It also signified a first grand slam victory alongside her new Spanish coach, Francisco Roig, who again offered his charge a constant stream of positive reinforcement from a corner of Louis Armstrong Stadium.