In a pulsating encounter that stretched late into the New York night, Britain's Emma Raducanu demonstrated her trademark resilience to overcome a formidable challenge from Dutch qualifier Janice Tjen. The final scoreline of 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 in favour of the 2021 champion barely tells the story of a match filled with tension, momentum shifts, and high-quality tennis.
Under the bright lights of the Louis Armstrong Stadium, Raducanu initially seemed in command, leveraging her powerful groundstrokes to seize the first set. However, the world No. 154, Tjen, refused to be intimidated by the occasion or her illustrious opponent. Displaying grit and stunning shot-making, the Dutch player mounted a fierce comeback in the second set, breaking Raducanu's serve at a critical moment to force a decider.
The final set was a nail-biting affair, with both athletes trading blows from the baseline. The match hinged on a crucial break of serve by Raducanu, who channeled the experience of her historic Flushing Meadows triumph to close out the match after two hours and twenty minutes of intense competition.
This hard-fought victory marks a significant milestone for Raducanu, being her first main-draw win at the US Open since her fairytale title run four years ago. The win not only propels her into the second round but also signals a promising return to form on the grand slam stage.
Raducanu's performance, a blend of fierce determination and flashes of her best tennis, sets up an exciting next chapter in her US Open journey. The British number one will be looking to build on this momentum as she continues her campaign in New York.
