The first set lasted twenty minutes. Twenty minutes in which Emma Raducanu conceded just six points to Anna Blinkova, firing winners on nearly half of her points won. An emphatic 6-0 that set the tone for an afternoon of dominance at Queen's Club.
The Briton cruised to a 6-0, 6-3 victory in just over an hour in her opening match at the HSBC Championships, the new WTA 500 event in London. The win carries special significance after several months without a match victory on tour.
"I'm so happy to have come through that match and to be back here playing at Queen's," Raducanu said afterwards. "I haven't won a match for a few months and there's no place I would rather have done it."
The second set provided slightly more resistance. Blinkova found her range at times, producing a sublime drop volley and forcing three consecutive double faults from the Briton at 3-3. But Raducanu dug deep to break at 4-3 and close out the match without further drama.
On the London grass, the surface where her career first took flight, Raducanu displayed fluid, aggressive tennis. Her serve was effective, her footwork sharp, and her ability to dictate rallies recalled her finest moments.
"Being a part of the atmosphere is something I really enjoy. I don't find it to be negative pressure," she added, looking visibly relieved.
Raducanu will face a qualifier or first-round winner in the second round. Grass has always been her most comfortable surface, and Queen's Club could well provide the stage for her return to form.
