Raducanu beats Shibahara in Nottingham opener

Emma Raducanu defied a precocious wobble to get her grass-court play disconnected to a winning commencement pinch a consecutive sets triumph complete Japan's Ena Shibahara astatine nan Nottingham Open.

Playing her first lucifer since April, having opted to skip nan French Open to attraction connected her fitness, nan 21-year-old Briton hit Shibahara 6-1 6-4.

It came 713 days aft her past quality connected grass, having had wrist and ankle surgeries successful 2023 that ruled her retired of Wimbledon.

"It's been rather a fewer weeks since I past played a competitory lucifer truthful I didn't really cognize really it would go," said Raducanu.

"I deliberation my intentions were awesome from nan start."

Playing astatine nan venue of her very first WTA lucifer successful 2021, months earlier her astounding tally to nan US Open title, Raducanu showed her intent early connected by breaking Shibahara successful nan opening crippled astatine nan Nottingham Tennis Centre.

Shibahara, predominantly a doubles subordinate who won nan French Open mixed title successful 2022, was playing her first singles lucifer connected writer astatine Tour level but simply proved nary lucifer for Raducanu successful nan early stages.

After redeeming 2 break points, nan British number six started to power play, breaking her opponent's service doubly much to spot retired nan first set.

She won 7 games successful succession, a tally halted by a Shibahara clasp to love, and looked to beryllium moving distant pinch nan match.

But, aft going a double break up pinch a 5-1 lead, cracks started to look successful Raducanu's performance.

Serving for nan match, she conceded a break for nan first time, earlier Shibahara past held to emotion for a 2nd time.

At nan 3rd clip of asking, nan Japanese subordinate collapsed again to swipe retired Raducanu's second-set advantage.

But that was wherever Shibahara's resurgence ended arsenic Raducanu instantly collapsed again, booking her spot successful nan 2nd information connected her first lucifer point.

She will look Daria Snigur adjacent aft nan Ukrainian defeated compatriot and 2nd seed Marta Kostyuk 6-3 6-3.

"I deliberation I played a really bully match," added Raducanu.

"At nan extremity I deliberation inevitably if you're 6-1 5-1 up thing astir apt could spell wrong. I was trying to not fto it get to my caput and conscionable preparing and fighting for each point.

"I knew that moreover though I mislaid 3 games successful a statement I still had a chance to triumph nan match.

"I'm very pleased pinch really I dealt pinch nan circumstances today."

In nan men's Challenger tourney astatine Nottingham, Dan Evans hit Dominic Stricker of Switzerland 6-3 4-6 6-3 to scope nan 2nd round.

Their lucifer resumed connected Tuesday lunchtime having being suspended aft nan 2nd group connected Monday nighttime owed to mediocre light.

"The break astir apt came astatine a decent clip for some of us," said Evans. "It was bully to travel backmost out, somewhat warmer than past night.

"I sewage through, I'm really happy, I cognize it's only nan first information but honestly I'm delighted to conscionable get done that."

Evans will adjacent look chap Briton Henry Searle who, aft coming done qualifying, hit American Denis Kudla successful consecutive sets.