Emma Raducanu dominates in first-round victory at Flushing Meadows

Four years after that memorable run as a teenage qualifier to the US Open title, Emma Raducanu has finally won another match at Flushing Meadows.

It was no big surprise that Raducanu struggled to handle the aftermath of a first grand-slam triumph at the age of 18, given the intensity of the spotlight she suddenly found herself under, but no one could have anticipated that it would not be until 2025 that she would taste victory again in New York. She lost first-round matches in 2022 and 2024, and was absent here in 2023 because of injury.

The venue no longer seemed a happy hunting ground for Raducanu this time last year when she broke down in tears after a three-set defeat by America’s Sofia Kenin, but her celebration on Sunday made for quite a contrast as she fist-pumped with a smile towards her support staff. A 6-1, 6-2 victory in 62 minutes against Ena Shibahara, a Japanese qualifier ranked No130 in the world, is undoubtedly one of her best performances at a major tournament.

Admittedly, Shibahara did not put up much of a challenge. Although the 27-year-old had done well to come through three matches in straight sets at last week’s preliminary event, she was noticeably nervous in this main-draw contest, hitting 36 unforced errors to Raducanu’s six.

Shibahara looked nervy and made 36 unforced errors YUKI IWAMURA/AP

Regardless of the level across the net, this win crucially maintains Raducanu’s high confidence level after an encouraging build-up on the American hard courts. Her game and mind are both in a good place after a semi-final run to the Washington Open and a close three-set loss to the world No1, Aryna Sabalenka, in the third round of the Cincinnati Open. A 25th match win here on Sunday means she has already banked more victories than in any other season in her career, with another 2½ months to go of the 2025 schedule.

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“I am 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 where there are nerves. I am just so happy with the way I came through that.”

The British No1 admitted the first-round victory in New York was “extra special” YUKI IWAMURA/AP

The tone for the match was set right at the start on a breezy morning on Louis Armstrong Stadium, the second stadium court here. Raducanu hit an ace on the first point and comfortably held serve for 1-0, while Shibahara double-faulted twice in her opening service game to go 2-0 down.

Raducanu’s new coach, Francisco Roig, who formerly worked with Rafael Nadal, nodded his approval from courtside as Raducanu raced to 5-0 by dominating the baseline exchanges. Raducanu was clearly in the zone, repeatedly shouting: “Let’s go, let’s go,” to herself in between points.

Shibahara was relieved not to be on the wrong end of a 6-0 set defeat with her first hold for 5-1, but this had no impact on the overall direction of the match as Raducanu closed out the set in 26 minutes with a comfortable smash at the net.

Raducanu kept up her momentum with an early break in the second set for 1-0 and saved the only break point she faced in the match at 4-1 up. Victory soon followed with a hold to love as Shibahara wildly hit a forehand wide of the court.

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Draper: Oasis helped me get over Wimbledon heartache

Draper said the Oasis gig was “one of the best nights of my life” SHUTTERSTOCK EDITORIAL

Jack Draper’s response to one of the most disappointing defeats in his career at Wimbledon last month was to join the hundreds of thousands of his compatriots who have revelled at one of the musical highlights of this summer.

An Oasis gig at Wembley Stadium is a far cry from the grass courts of the All England Club, but it is where Draper took solace in moving on from a dispiriting four-set defeat by Marin Cilic in the second round. Little by little, the hit songs of Liam and Noel Gallagher helped the British No 1 not to look back in anger.

“It was probably the best night of my life in all honesty,” Draper said. “They are one of my childhood bands that I listen to the most. I absolutely love both of them, and I love the whole band in general. It was incredible. I don’t think many bands can do that.”

It is not ideal for Draper’s tennis that an arm injury forced him out of action for eight weeks following Wimbledon as he arrives at the US Open with no singles matches under his belt on the American hard courts this summer. Not that he seems too worried about this, instead enthusing about the time he had to enjoy the more normal elements of life away from the court.

“Those sorts of things I don’t often get to do a lot in life in general,” Draper said. “Just take myself away from things, go to gigs and just feel like I’m not in the bubble of tennis. Obviously it was tough missing out on the tournaments, but at the same time having a bit of time to reflect on things and be able to enjoy just normal things was a big thing for me.”

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