"I feel different this year," Raducanu reacts after her first US Open win since 2021
Victorious against Shibahara (6-1, 6-2) in her opening match at the US Open, Raducanu once again displayed a very solid level of play. Having struggled at Flushing Meadows since her surprise victory in 2021, the British player secured a symbolic win, as reflected in her comments after the match:
"The early rounds are always tough. I was a bit nervous, for sure, and I really wanted to win here. I'm very happy I managed to do it. Ena had already played three matches under these conditions after the qualifiers, so she was used to it. So I'm very pleased with how I handled it.
I was nervous this morning, especially because I was playing first. There wasn't much time, everything was moving very fast. But after taking a shower and putting on my outfit, I felt a shift and focused. Winning the first game was very important; it helped me relax a lot, especially since I was serving first.
It's been four years, and this tournament is really special for me. I felt different coming in this year, like I was doing the right things day-to-day. I'm just really happy I got through it."
In the next round, she will face Indonesia's Tjen (149th), a qualifier who surprised everyone by eliminating the 24th seed, Kudermetova (6-4, 4-6, 6-4).
US Open 
