US Open: Emma Raducanu powers past Ena Shibahara in first round

Until Sunday, Emma Raducanu had failed to win a match at Flushing Meadows since she lifted the US Open women’s single title in 2021.

This year, Raducanu has insisted that the venue is her “happy place,” and she got her tournament off to a promising start by easing past Japanese qualifier Ena Shibahara in straight sets.

The win is the latest bright point in what is the some of the best tennis of Raducanu’s career to date, using her consistent results and injury-free health to climb back towards the world’s top 30.

She also has a new full-time coach in her corner in experienced Spaniard Francisco Roig, who spent close to two decades in Rafael Nadal’s camp.