US Open 2025: Emma Raducanu sails into second round with win over Ena Shibahara
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Emma Raducanu became the first player to reach the second round at the 2025 US Open with a comfortable victory over qualifier Ena Shibahara.
Raducanu needed just 63 minutes to knock out the Japanese star 6-1, 6-2 – claiming her first win at the US Open since her title run in 2021.
Raducanu dominated Shibahara's serve - breaking five times to set up a second round clash with either 24th seed Veronika Kudermetova or Janice Tjen.
“I'm very pleased to have won that match,” Raducanu said in her on-court interview after the match. “It's my first win here since 2021 so it's extra special.
"First round is always difficult, especially at a Slam, there's always nerves. I'm happy with the way I came through that.
“Playing Ena, she's very tricky, she hit so many balls on the baseline that I wasn't expecting to just dip. She came through qualifying where you always feel like you have a bit of an advantage playing on the surface and knowing what it feels like. I'm pleased with how I managed myself and my game in that match.”
Raducanu has been in strong form in the build up to the US Open, making the semi-final in Washington and well as picking up wins at the WTA 1000 events in Montreal and Cincinnati.
“I'm very happy, I've got amazing people in my corner,” she added. “It makes every day, the work feel a lot more enjoyable. I see the progress I'm making on the practice court.”
World No.35 Raducanu got off to a lightning start in the first match of the tournament on the Louis Armstrong Stadium. The former champion won the opening five games – losing just seven points – before going on to take the first set in 26 minutes
Raducanu put Shibahara under huge pressure in the baseline rallies, and the Japanese star hit 36 unforced errors in the match.
Those errors proved costly at the start of the second set. Shibahara fired long facing a fourth break point in the opening game of the set and then later missed a drive volley to hand over a double break.
The young Briton played with great confidence and composure - batting away the only sign of danger facing break point at 4-1 up, before going on to see out the victory on serve.
Tomorrow British No.1 Jack Draper and No.2 Cam Norrie are both in singles action. Draper is second on the Louis Armstrong Stadium up against Federico Agustin Gomez, while Norrie is on Stadium 17 against home favourite Sebastian Korda.
