Emma Raducanu made a statement start to her HSBC Championships campaign as she cruised past qualifier Anna Blinkova in straight sets.
The British No.1 – who was a quarter-finalist at the event last year – delivered a dominant display to secure a 6-0, 6-3 victory in just over an hour in her opening match of the grass-court season.
The victory marked her first match win since reaching the second round at Indian Wells back in March. Raducanu was forced to the sidelines for just over two months after struggling with post-viral illness but made her return to action last month in Strasbourg where she played three events on the clay.
The former US Open champion will be hoping to string together a strong run at The Queen’s Club as she targets a second WTA final of the year, following her runner-up finish at the Transylvania Open.
“I’m so happy to have come through that match and to be back here playing at Queen’s,” Raducanu beamed in her on-court interview. “I haven’t won a match for a few months and there’s no place I’d rather have done it so I’m really grateful for the support, so thank you.
“I have people who mean a lot around me,” she added on having the support of her team. “I’m doing the best I can each day – being a part of the atmosphere is something I really enjoy and I don’t necessarily see it as added negative pressure, I really thrive and buzz off it.”
