Emma Raducanu enjoyed a dream start to her Miami Open with a composed 6-2, 6-1 win over Japanese wildcard Sayaka Ishii.
The British No 2 lost in the first round of Indian Wells earlier this month in her first match since a traumatic incident dealing with a stalker at a tournament in Dubai, who had followed her to three events across the Asian hard-court swing.
She fell to a 6-3, 6-2 loss to Moyuka Uchijima and said she would aim to “improve everything” ahead of her appearance in Miami, which forms the second half of the ‘Sunshine Double’ of combined ATP and WTA 1000 tournaments along with Indian Wells.
And improve everything she did, producing a brilliant serving performance and staying firmly in control of the match despite a wobble against Ishii in the early stages of the first set. Ishii, who is ranked 188th in the world, was let down by a litany of unforced errors and struggled to find consistency, although her powerful ball-striking occasionally troubled Raducanu in the first set.
The Brit moved up a gear however and steamrolled through the second to set up a stern second-round test against American 10th seed Emma Navarro.
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‘Bringing some energy’ the objective for Raducanu today
More from Raducanu as she chats to ex-pro and now Sky Sports pundit Laura Robson courtside.
“I think I was just so focused on every point and trying to compete, that was my main objective today, bringing some energy, bringing some competitiveness,” she tells Robson. “I think that’s been missing the last couple of months so I’m proud of that.
“Especially today, my opponent, she loves big ball-striking, so that wouldn’t have been the best way to play her. I got some success early on with [the slice], I’m pretty happy with how I played the match tactically.
“I think it is deceiving how hard she hits the backhand especially, she can do a lot with the ball, a lot of variety. I think in a way we’re similar in terms of our build and our game. [It’s] one that I don’t have pressure on.
“Go Boults!” she adds, with Katie Boulter set to take on American Peyton Stearns later today.
‘It hasn’t been easy for me coming into this’ – Raducanu speaks to Sky Sports
“I’m very pleased to have got through that, it’s not an easy first round, playing someone a bit younger, dangerous and in good form,” she tells Sky Sports. “It hasn’t been easy for me coming into this but I think I put out a good performance.
On her second round against Emma Navarro, she says, “It’s going to be an extremely challenging match, she’s probably in better form so I think I can just go out, try and express myself and compete for every point.
“It’s really nice [in Miami], I haven’t won a match yet here in my professional career but I have great memories from playing junior Orange Bowl. It’s a little bit different now!”
Emma Raducanu beats Sayaka Ishii 6-2, 6-1
“Keep keeping on”, a smiling Raducanu writes on the lens in the now-traditional sign-off at the end of a match.
It’s a muted celebration as she waves to the crowd, and she may have half an eye on her second-round match: a tough test against eighth seed and in-form American, Emma Navarro.
GAME, SET AND MATCH! *Emma Raducanu 6-2, 6-1 Sayaka Ishii
Just as I say how great Raducanu’s serve has been, her first serve disappears in this game.
But no matter, as another Ishii error – how else – brings an end to this match, with the wildcard firing long.
A solid, composed performance by Raducanu.
MATCH POINT! *Emma Raducanu 6-2, 5-1 Sayaka Ishii
Another thumping unreturnable serve by Raducanu and Ishii can only net. The Brit’s serve has been pretty immaculate in this match.
But she puts a fraction too much on the ball in the next rally and leaves the door open for Ishii, 15-30.
Ishii has a golden opportunity for break point but sends a forehand down into the net and looks visibly peeved, rolling her eyes at herself. A second serve return is even worse, launched way beyond the baseline, and Raducanu has match point.
Emma Raducanu 6-2, 5-1 Sayaka Ishii*
Raducanu nets to give Ishii game point and then whacks a down-the-line return on a second serve just long to allow the 19-year-old on the board in this second set.
Ishii serves to stay in the match
Ishii is yet to get on the board in this set but things look more promising as she gets to 30-15.
But Raducanu is fully in control of the next point, pushing Ishii out wide and redirecting the ball smartly into the opposite corner for 30-30.
Ishii has a chance to avoid a bagel but can’t get the right angle on a difficult Raducanu slice, hitting tamely into the net for deuce.
*Emma Raducanu 6-2, 5-0 Sayaka Ishii
Ishii smacks a ball in frustration as she goes 30-0 down. Raducanu by contrast looks entirely composed and fires down another ace.
She follows it up with a double fault and then goes long for 40-30, but another unreturnable serve swiftly gets her out of trouble.
Nine games in a row for Raducanu.
Emma Raducanu 6-2, 4-0 Sayaka Ishii*
Better from Ishii as she forces the error from Raducanu, outlasting her in a longer rally.
Another wild, looping backhand from Raducanu and she opens the door for Ishii to get on the board in this set.
But the Japanese player has no luck, spraying another three balls wide for 30-40, and is staring down the barrel of a double break. Long again from Ishii and from 30-0 up, she’s now down 4-0 in this set.
*Emma Raducanu 6-2, 3-0 Sayaka Ishii
Raducanu is in full flow now, sending Ishii scrambling all over the court and finishing off a point with a neat volley with her opponent marooned at the baseline.
She’s rapidly 40-0 up and another unforced error by Ishii means she’s got a mountain to climb from here.
