Emma Raducanu defeated Ena Shibahara 6–1, 6–2 at the US Open on hard court in the first round, confirming her status as the heavy pre-match favourite with odds of 1.12 to Shibahara's 7.28. The British former champion delivered a dominant performance, conceding just three games across two sets against her Japanese opponent. Raducanu's commanding display in the opening round suggests solid form heading into the tournament's deeper stages, where consistency will prove crucial for a player seeking to rebuild momentum after a challenging period.