British teenager Emma Raducanu has made a strong start to her bid to reach the US Open.
The 18-year-old dropped just three games as she rolled over Holland’s Bibiane Schoofs 6-1 6-2 in the first round of qualifying.
Raducanu’s world ranking, on the back of her strong showing in Chicago last week where she made the Challenger event final, is now up to 150.
First qualifying win in Flushing Meadows ✅#USOpen | @EmmaRaducanu pic.twitter.com/z8YaYt18LG — US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 25, 2021
That granted her a seeding of 31 at the qualifying tournament and 33-year-old Schoofs, the world number 283, was overpowered.
Raducanu, who memorably reached the fourth round at Wimbledon last month, needs two more wins to reach the main draw of what would be her first overseas grand slam.
Fellow Briton Katie Boulter, seeded one place lower at 32, is also comfortably through after a 6-3 6-2 win over American Gabriella Price.
There was further British success for Jodie Burrage, a 6-4 6-1 winner over American Robin Montgomery, and Liam Broady, who beat Japan’s Tatsuma Ito by the same scoreline, while Harriet Dart beat Peyton Stearns 6-3 4-6 6-3.
