British No. 1 Emma Raducanu opened her 2025 US Open campaign with a commanding 6-1, 6-2 victory over Japanese qualifier Ena Shibahara, securing her first win at Flushing Meadows since lifting the title in 2021. The 22-year-old, unseeded in New York, dominated behind a strong first serve and aggressive baseline play, wrapping up the match in just over an hour to register her 25th win of the season. Raducanu, working with new coach Francisco Roig, said the result made a return to what she now calls her “happy place” feel “extra special” after first-round exits in 2022 and 2024. The win sends her into the second round, where she continues her bid to recreate the form that stunned the tennis world four years ago.