Citi Open: ‘Good to get a acquire here’ – Emma Raducanu back again to winning ways on US soil just after beating Louisa Chirico

Reigning US Open champion Emma Raducanu kicked off her return to the North American swing with a 6-4 6-2 victory above Louisa Chirico in the 1st round of the Citi Open in Washington D.C.

The No. 2 seed, who surprised the world past year to claim her 1st-ever Grand Slam at Flushing Meadows as a qualifier, took an hour and 27 minutes to defeat the American qualifier.

Raducanu is seeking at the hard courts to get back again to successful means just after an indifferent 2022 marketing campaign that has seen her exit the 2nd rounds of the two the Australian Open and Wimbledon, and reaching the quarter-remaining of just one particular WTA 500 celebration in Stuttgart back again in April.

She set her stall out early by converting a next crack stage in the opening activity to seize an early gain.

Nonetheless, right after missing the opportunity for a double break once again for 3-, she quickly located herself level at 3-3 right after shedding her serve.

The Brit then stepped it up once more in the ninth game to break once again right before serving out the set to really like.

Both players unsuccessful to convert split factors at the begin of the second set as the match stayed on serve until finally the fifth video game when Raducanu ultimately broke at the third time of inquiring.

The 19-yr-aged was then in cruise regulate using the next a few games, which include two like-keep company video games, for victory.

“Unquestionably feels genuinely superior to get a acquire right here in D.C.,” Raducanu reported later on. “And after not actively playing for fairly a little bit after Wimbledon or lots of matches at all this calendar year, I feel it can be a seriously great experience just to get on the board.

“I think enjoying any initial round is usually really hard. Then when you happen to be not automatically that match-sharp, modest items you really don’t necessarily get proper. It is really just essential to stay serene.”

She now faces Colombia’s Camila Osorio in the second round.

Elsewhere, a further former US Open winner Sloane Stephens was beaten 6-1 6-4 by Ajla Tomljanovic when Victoria Azarenka was a 6-4 6- victor above Dayana Yastremska.