Emma Raducanus stunned the tennis community four years ago when she qualified for the U.S. Open at the age of 18.
Raducanu’s lack of success at Flushing Meadows since then, however, has been almost as shocking.
After losing in the first round in 2022 and 2024 and missing the 2023 tournament due to injury, the British star went into the weekend hoping to win her first U.S. Open match since that 2021 title.
Raducanu ended the slump on Sunday by easily defeating Ena Shibahara 6-1, 6-2 at Louis Armstrong Stadium to win the first round.
“I’ve been thinking about it,” the 22-year-old Raducanu further stated. It’s a very meaningful competition for me, and it has been for four years. This year, I did felt different going into it. Even though it’s in the back of your mind, I felt like I was doing the right things every day, so I’m just glad I’ve gotten past it.
On the opening day of the Open, Raducanu defeated Japanese qualifier Shibahara in just 62 minutes. On a cool Queens morning, she faced little opposition as she won 5-0 in the first set and 4-0 in the second.
She only made six unforced mistakes in total.
The match started at 11 a.m., making it the first of this year’s tournament to be held at Louis Armstrong.
After practice this morning, Raducanu admitted, “I was anxious.” Playing first on, there’s not much time left. You seem to be hurrying through tasks. In practice, I felt anxious. Following my shower, I felt as though I had simply entered the zone and put on my match kit, which for me is a shift of “Okay, you’re going to get ready.” Now lock in.
Then, she added, I relaxed. Moving on to Armstrong, I believe that winning that first game was crucial.
Raducanu became the first qualifier to ever win one of the four Grand Slam tournaments when she won the Open in 2021.
However, it is still her only Grand Slam victory.
Raducanu fell to American Sofia Kenin last year and to Aliz Cornet in the 2022 Open. Raducanu was unable to participate in the tournament in 2023 due to surgeries on both wrists and an ankle.
Raducanu, who started this year’s Open ranked No. 36, was formerly the 10th-ranked player in the world.
Nevertheless, Raducanu noted last week that she was in a much better place going into this year’s U.S. Open and called it a joyful place. Francisco Roig, who coached Rafael Nadal from 2005 to 22, was hired by Raducana earlier this month.
Playing on Armstrong today was a lot of fun. Raducanu remarked after Sunday’s victory that the crowd was fantastic.
New York, in my opinion, is always unique. It can be difficult because there is always a lot going on, whether you are in the city, at a hotel, or traveling to court. We all kind of go through it, even though there is traffic and it takes an hour. Personally, I adore the buzz. I adore the crowd’s intimacy.
On Wednesday, Raducanu will play Janice Tjen of Indonesia in the second round. In her first-ever U.S. Open match, Tjen, 23, upset Veronika Kudermetova, the 24th seed, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 on Sunday.
Raducana stated, “I felt like I had most things on my side of the court kind of under control.” All I want to do is continue doing what I’m doing and remain in my comfort zone.
