Emma Raducanu raced into the second round of the Miami Open with a dominant 6-2 6-1 victory over Japanese wildcard Sayaka Ishii.
It was a first win for British No 2 since a traumatic incident involving a stalker at the Dubai Open last month, and follows a first-round exit in Indian Wells, the first tournament of the ‘Sunshine Double’.
Raducanu started fast by claiming the opening two games before Ishii found her rhythm and levelled at 2-2, but the Brit reeled off four successive games to take the first set 6-2.
The 2021 US Open champion continued her dominance in the second set, extending her streak of successive games won to nine as her Japanese opponent, ranked 188th in the world, leaked unforced errors and struggled to find a way back into the match.
Ishii avoided a whitewash in the second set by holding serve in the sixth game, before Raducanu took her first match point opportunity to claim victory.
“I’m very pleased to have got through that, it’s not easy to play someone in the first round who’s younger, dangerous and in good form,” Raducanu told Sky Sports.
“I’m really proud of how I competed today, it hasn’t been easy for me coming into this but I think I put out a really good performance.”
Raducanu faces a tough test in the second round against home favourite and in-form eighth seed Emma Navarro.
“It’s going to be an extremely challenging match,” she added. “I think it will be a match where she’s probably in better form, so I think I can go out and try and express myself and compete for every point.
“She’s a great person. I think on the tour she’s someone I warm to and would like to say ‘hello’ to, so it will be a double Emma whenever we play.”
