Raducanu thrashes Ena Shibahara for first US Open victory since 2021 title

• British No 1 dispatches qualifier 6-1, 6-2

• Victory is first in grand slam under new coach

Four years after her three life-changing weeks in New York, Emma Raducanu overcame a significant mental hurdle as she secured her first victory at the US Open since her 2021 title run in impressive fashion, dismantling the qualifier Ena Shibahara 6-1, 6-2 to finally return to the second round.

After painful first-round defeats by Alize Cornet and Sofia Kenin, plus a withdrawal in 2023 during an eight-month injury layoff, Raducanu showed her growth and newfound self-assurance by putting together a solid, clean performance against an inferior opponent.