By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, August 24, 2025
NEW YORK—The fluorescent orange Nike footwear Emma Raducanu wore on court docket weren’t the one shiny affirmation of her US Open return.
The 2021 US Open champion scored a press release win, stomping doubles specialist Ena Shibahara 6-1, 6-2 in a 62-minute rout on Louis Armstrong Stadium in at this time’s opener.
Although Raducanu took the court docket because the heavy favourite and breeze to a 5-0 first set lead and a 4-0 second-set benefit, this was nonetheless an necessary first step.
The 22-year-old Briton scored her first US Open win since she beat Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 6-3 within the 2021 Flushing Meadows closing.
“In fact I’m very, very happy to have gained that match,” Raducanu mentioned. “It’s my first win right here since 2021, so it’s additional particular. First rounds are all the time tough, particularly at a Slam, you already know, there are nerves, and I’m simply so pleased with the best way I got here by means of that
“Taking part in Ena, she’s actually tough, she hits so many balls on the baseline that I used to be not anticipating to simply dip and she or he clearly got here by means of qualifying and you are feeling you might have a little bit of a bonus. You’re enjoying on the floor and is aware of what it appears like. So I’m simply very happy with how I managed myself, how I managed my sport by means of that match.”
Afterward, Raducanu mentioned breaking by means of for an additional win in New York, web site of her lone title, has been a precedence.
“Yeah, it has been on my thoughts. It’s been 4 years, and it’s a really particular event for me,” Raducanu mentioned. “I did really feel completely different coming into it this 12 months. I felt like I used to be doing the fitting issues daily, however nonetheless, it’s behind your head. So I’m simply very happy to have overcome that.”
World No. 35 Raducanu set the tone on serve to arrange her first strike.
Raducanu served 73 p.c, gained 27 of 33 first-serve factors and saved the one break level she confronted, holding for a 5-1 second-set lead.
4 years in the past, Raducanu was Flushing Meadows’ shining star on the ultimate Saturday. Raducanu made historical past as the primary qualifier—man or girl—to play by means of qualifying and win a Grand Slam singles title on the 2021 US Open.
Returning at this time within the event’s first Sunday begin, Raducanu made fast work of the A hundred and thirtieth-ranked qualifier rolling out to a double-break 5-0 lead after solely 19 minutes of play.
The 2022 Roland Garros combined doubles champion Shibihara does her finest work transferring ahead on the doubles court docket.
In the present day, Raducanu repeatedly beat her in working rallies, pushing Shibahara side-to-side draining errors from the Japanese participant’s forehand. Shibahara dedicated 36 unforced errors—-30 greater than the 22-year-old Briton—and typically struggled along with her working forehand.
Since her Cinderella run to the 2021 US Open title, Raducanu had suffered successive opening-round exits in 2022—to Alize Cornet—and final 12 months 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 vast serve on the deuce facet of the court docket successfully and saved the ball transferring nook to nook. Her athleticism and quickness across the court docket have been key parts as was her optimistic perspective.
Coach Roig was seated within the nook of the court docket proper close to the participant towel containers, however Raducanu mentioned amid the dimensions and noise of Armstrong Stadium she couldn’t actually her him and was too zoned in on the motion anyway.
“I actually don’t hear a lot in any respect. It’s so tough. And even when you’re on the court docket and looking out, youdon’t actually hear it except you’re sort of lip-reading,” Raducanu mentioned. “It’s actually tough except you’re on the field and also you’re talking very shut and looking out, it’s so onerous to listen to. I most likely don’t absorb a lot of what he’s saying, however I believe, you already know, after I really feel like I actually need it, then I’ll go andlook and can perceive.
“However for probably the most half, particularly if you’re in a match like at this time, I felt like I had most issues sort of underneath management on my facet of the court docket. I simply wish to keep in my zone and maintain going with what I’m doing.”
As of late, a extra relaxed Raducanu is enjoying extra freely.
“Effectively, I believe in comparison with 4 years in the past, I really feel relaxed, I really feel pleased, I really feel in a method like the identical off court docket by way of simply having fun with my tennis, having fun with training, having fun with competing, and the method of getting higher,” Raducanu mentioned. “I believe I really feel the identical in that sense. However I’m simply extra conscious now of all the pieces that’s doable.
“And, you already know, after I gained in ’21, I didn’t know, I assume about this world of potential negativity and bringing individuals down, bringing gamers down. I’d say that sort of affected me loads in the previous couple of years. It nonetheless undoubtedly will get me every so often, however total I believe I can get pleasure from what I’m doing daily much more, I’ve good individuals round, so yeah, I’m simply pleased that I’m on this place with my tennis.”
Can Raducanu, who pushed world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka to the restrict in struggling a 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(5) Cincinnati loss that spanned three hours, 9 minutes, flip this US Open into one other pleasure experience?
The diploma of issue will spike significantly as Washington, DC semifinalist Raducanu will face both Twenty fourth-seeded Veronika Kudermetova or qualifier Janice Tjen subsequent. The winner of that conflict may face former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, if the seeds maintain true to type, in spherical three.
In the present day’s triumph was simply the 14th main match win for Raducanu since she raised the 2021 title trophy in Queens.
For now, Raducanu is making an attempt to experience the optimistic vibe—and successful wave—that has been lacking since her impressed title run.
“I’d say I do really feel very completely different to 2022. I actually struggled after I got here again in 2022,” Raducanu mentioned. “I didn’t get pleasure from coming again right here. I believe now’s the primary time that I really feel like I can come again to the US Open and actually benefit from the reminiscences that I made right here and be pleased with that and see it as a cheerful place.
“So for that, I really feel very grateful for and very happy about. So I really feel in a a lot better place now.”
