MASON, Ohio — Emma Raducanu survived Serena Williams in a highly anticipated opening round match Tuesday at the Western & Southern Open.
Dominant from the start, Raducanu broke Williams in the opening game before rolling to a 6-4, 6-0 win.
Williams, 40, who announced she was retiring from tennis after the US Open, was only playing her fourth game of the season. The 23-time Major champion won her first match in over a year at the National Bank Open last week, defeating Nuria Parrizas Diaz in straight sets before bowing out to Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic.
On Tuesday, Williams struggled to find her rhythm. 19-year-old Raducanu played clean tennis throughout the game. Raducanu had just one unforced error to go with eight winners in the first set, while Williams missed with 12 unforced errors to go with 11 winners. Raducanu broke Williams twice in the opening set to build a quick 4-1 lead before Williams earned her first and only break point of the game. Williams converted to close the gap, but Raducanu coolly served out the opening set after 39 minutes.
With a set in hand, the Brit sped away in set number two to claim her 12th win of the season, hitting zero unforced errors to end the match. She meets former No. 1 Victoria Azarenka in the second round.
“I think we all just have to honor Serena and her amazing career,” Raducanu told the crowd after the game. “I’m so grateful for the experience of being able to play her and for the transition in our careers. Everything she has achieved is so inspiring and it was a true honor to share the space with her.”
Statistics of the game: Raducanu made just one unforced error in the match while scoring 14 winners. Williams ended with 19 winners, including seven aces, along with 19 unforced errors.
Watch this: Emma Raducanu honors Serena Williams after victory in Cincinnati
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