Emma Raducanu brushed aside Sloane Stephens 6-4, 6-0 to advance to the second round of the Eastbourne International on Tuesday in a battle of former US Open champions.
Britain's Raducanu recovered from being broken twice in the first set before demolishing her opponent in the second set to set up a second-round match against world No 5 Jessica Pegula.
A statement win 👊@EmmaRaducanu is finding her footing on the grass she defeats Stephens in straight sets and secures her place into the next round! #RothesayInternational pic.twitter.com/YTm1Y7qJ11
— wta (@WTA) June 25, 2024
Raducanu, who won the US Open as a qualifier in 2021, has slipped to 168th in the world after an injury-plagued 2023 season.
The 21-year-old missed the French Open but returned to competition at the Nottingham Open grass-court tournament earlier this month, where she reached the semifinals.
"I think for me it was the case of adapting to the court," said Raducanu, who has been given a wild card for Wimbledon, which starts on 1 July.
"I've never played in Eastbourne, I've never played on this centre court and every court plays a little bit differently. In the beginning, I was trying to figure out what was the best way for me to play and use my game."
Stephens, who won the US Open in 2017, broke first for a 3-2 lead but failed to hold serve for the rest of the match.
Raducanu, after saving two break points to hold for 5-4, broke the American for a third time to seal the first set and then sprinted to the finish line, completing victory in 76 minutes.
Also in first-round action on England's south coast, Elise Mertens beat Yuriko Miyazaki 6-1, 6-2 while Ashlyn Krueger overcame Viktorija Golubic 6-1, 6-7 (7/9), 7-5.
Gets there in the end ✊
— wta (@WTA) June 25, 2024
Ashlyn Krueger fends off a comeback from Golubic to advance in Eastbourne!
Next faces Fernandez at the #RothesayInternational pic.twitter.com/aEjROhaMsM