Emma Raducanu brushed aside Sayaka Ishii to advance into the second round at the Miami Open.
Raducanu needed just over an hour to defeat the Japanese teenager at Hard Rock Stadium on Wednesday, breezing through 6-2 6-1 to set up a last-32 meeting with American eighth seed Emma Navarro on Friday.
It was the British number two’s second win since the Australian Open back in January and her first since dealing with a stalker incident at the Dubai Open in February, having lost in the first round at Indian Wells last week.
The victory appeared to come without Slovakian coach Vladimir Platenik, who was reportedly not seen at Wednesday’s match after a trial period coaching Raducanu that began at Indian Wells - suggesting that partnership may now have run its course.
Raducanu started fast by claiming the opening two games before Ishii found her rhythm and levelled at 2-2. But the Briton reeled off four successive games to take the first set 6-2.
The 2021 US Open champion continued her dominance in the second set, extending her streak of successive games won to nine as her opponent, ranked 188th in the world, struggled in the Florida sun.
Ishii avoided a whitewash in the second set by holding serve in the sixth game, before Raducanu took her first match point opportunity to claim victory.
"I'm very pleased to have got through that, it's not easy to play someone in the first round who's younger, dangerous and in good form," Raducanu told Sky Sports.
"I'm really proud of how I competed today, it hasn't been easy for me coming into this but I think I put out a really good performance."
On facing Navarro next, she added: "It's going to be an extremely challenging match.
"I think it will be a match where she's probably in better form, so I think I can go out and try and express myself and compete for every point.
"She's a great person. I think on the tour she's someone I warm to and would like to say 'hello' to, so it will be a double Emma whenever we play."
Additional reporting by the Press Association.
