The fluorescent orange Nike shoes Emma Raducanu wore on court weren’t the only bright affirmation of her US Open return.
The 2021 US Open champion scored a statement win, stomping doubles specialist Ena Shibahara 6-1, 6-2 in a 62-minute rout on Louis Armstrong Stadium in today’s opener.
Though Raducanu took the court as the heavy favorite and breeze to a 5-0 first set lead and a 4-0 second-set advantage, this was still an important first step.
The 22-year-old Briton scored her first US Open win since she beat Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-3 in the 2021 Flushing Meadows final.
“Of course I’m very, very pleased to have won that match,” Raducanu said. “It’s my first win here since 2021, so it’s extra special. First rounds are always difficult, especially at a Slam, you know, there are nerves, and I’m just so happy with the way I came through that
“Playing Ena, she’s really tricky, she hits so many balls on the baseline that I was not expecting to just dip and she obviously came through qualifying and you feel you have a bit of an advantage. You’re playing on the surface and knows what it feels like. So I’m just very pleased with how I managed myself, how I managed my game through that match.”
Afterward, Raducanu said breaking through for another win in New York, site of her lone title, has been a priority.
“Yeah, it has been on my mind. It’s been four years, and it’s a very special tournament for me,” Raducanu said. “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.”
World No. 35 Raducanu set the tone on serve to set up her first strike.
Raducanu served 73 percent, won 27 of 33 first-serve points and saved the only break point she faced, holding for a 5-1 second-set lead.
Four years ago, Raducanu was Flushing Meadows’ shining star on the final Saturday. Raducanu made history as the first qualifier—man or woman—to play through qualifying and win a Grand Slam singles title at the 2021 US Open.
Returning today in the tournament’s first Sunday start, Raducanu made quick work of the 130th-ranked qualifier rolling out to a double-break 5-0 lead after only 19 minutes of play.
The 2022 Roland Garros mixed doubles champion Shibihara does her best work moving forward on the doubles court.
Today, Raducanu repeatedly beat her in running rallies, pushing Shibahara side-to-side draining errors from the Japanese player’s forehand. Shibahara committed 36 unforced errors—-30 more than the 22-year-old Briton—and sometimes struggled with her running forehand.
Since her Cinderella run to the 2021 US Open title, Raducanu had suffered successive opening-round exits in 2022—to Alize Cornet—and last year when American Sofia Kenin beat her 6-1, 3-6, 6-4.
Working with new coach Francisco Roig, Rafael Nadal’s former long-time coach, Raducanu whipped the wide serve on the deuce side of the court effectively and kept the ball moving corner to corner. Her athleticism and quickness around the court were key components as was her positive attitude.