Under the lights of Louis Armstrong Stadium, the 22-year-old Brit showed no signs of nerves, setting the tone early with a confident ace and an opening hold to love. In contrast, Shibahara struggled on serve, double-faulting to concede an early break as Raducanu\u2019s aggressive baseline play dictated proceedings, as per the tournament website.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"Of course, I\u2019m very, very pleased to have won that match. It\u2019s my first win here since 2021, so it\u2019s extra special.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cFirst rounds are always difficult, especially at a Slam, there are nerves. Playing Ena, she\u2019s really tricky, she hit so many balls on the baseline I wasn\u2019t expecting to dip. She obviously came through qualifying, you then feel like you have a little bit of an advantage playing already.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI\u2019m just very pleased, how I managed myself and managed my game through that match,\u201d said the Brit.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Raducanu\u2019s relentless return game and movement proved too much. A dazzling cross-court forehand on the run helped her secure a double break before she closed out the opening set with a smart overhead following a sprint to track down a drop shot.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Having struggled with injuries and inconsistency since her fairytale 2021 title, Raducanu arrived in New York with growing momentum. With a new coach and renewed focus, the world No. 36 showcased the form that once made her a Grand Slam champion.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Raducanu\u2019s relentless return game and movement proved too much. A dazzling cross-court forehand on the run helped her secure a double break before she closed out the opening set with a smart overhead following a sprint to track down a drop shot.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
With strong results earlier this season, including deep runs in Miami and Washington, and a gritty battle with world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in Cincinnati, Raducanu\u2019s US Open campaign looks promising ..<\/p>\r\n\r\n