Emma Raducanu secured her first US Open victory in four years with an emphatic straight-sets triumph over Japanese qualifier Ena Shibahara on Sunday.
The British player dominated proceedings at Court Louis Armstrong, winning 6-1, 6-2 in just 61 minutes.
This marked Raducanu's first success at Flushing Meadows since her remarkable 2021 championship run, when she became the first qualifier in history to capture a Grand Slam title.
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Emma Raducanu looked in fine form as she swept past Ena Shibahara in the first round of the US Open
|REUTERS
The world number 35 had endured disappointment at the tournament in subsequent years, failing to progress beyond the opening round.
The 22-year-old's commanding performance launched this year's US Open action in style.
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Raducanu seized control from the opening exchanges, establishing a commanding 5-0 advantage in the first set.
Her opponent managed to avoid a bagel by holding serve once, but the Briton wrapped up the set in merely 26 minutes.
The second set followed a similar pattern as Raducanu surged to a 4-0 lead.
Despite facing some resistance from the world number 130, who had progressed through qualifying without dropping a set, the British player maintained her dominance throughout.
Shibahara, who reached the second round at last year's tournament, struggled to find her rhythm against Raducanu's relentless pressure and accurate baseline play.
Speaking after her victory, Raducanu expressed delight at breaking her winless streak at the venue.
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Emma Raducanu finally ended a four-year wait for a win at the US Open
|REUTERS
"I'm very, very pleased to have won that match," she told the crowd. "It's my first win here since 2021, so it's extra special.
"First rounds are always difficult, especially at Slams there are nerves. I'm so happy with the way I came through playing Ena.
"I'm very happy I've got amazing people in my corner. It makes the work everyday feel more enjoyable."
Raducanu's journey at the US Open has been challenging since her breakthrough victory. In 2022, she became just the fourth defending champion to exit in the first round, falling to Alize Cornet.
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Emma Raducanu was delighted to finally end her US Open hoodoo
|REUTERS
Injury prevented her participation in the 2023 tournament. Last year brought another early disappointment when she lost to Grand Slam winner Sofia Kenin in the opening round.
The British player entered this year's tournament having shown encouraging form throughout the season.
She noted her satisfaction with recent practice court improvements, saying: "I see the progress I'm making on the practice court. It might not come straight away, but I feel like I'm racking up good days."