Emma Raducanu makes light work of Shelby Rogers on return to Grand Slam tennis at Australian Open

Emma Raducanu made an impressive return to Grand Slam tennis as she beat Shelby Rogers 6-3 6-2 in the first-round of the Australian Open.

Raducanu had met Rogers once before. The Brit overcame Rogers in a round-of-16 encounter on the way to winning the US Open in 2021, and was once again far too good for the American.

Rogers – like Raducanu – missed a large swathe of the 2023 season through injury, but it remained an impressive return from the Brit.

Raducanu will face Wang Yafan in the second round.

It was Raducanu’s first appearance at a Grand Slam since last year’s Australian Open after an injury-blighted year but the Brit made a promising return to the tour at the ASB Classic earlier this month.

The 2021 US Open winner reached the second round in New Zealand, impressing as she powered past Elena-Gabriela Ruse in the first round, before falling to eventual runner-up Elina Svitolina in a tight second-round encounter.

If that added pressure to her return, it failed to show. She produced a rock solid opening 37 minutes to seal the first set after securing the decisive break in the fourth game.

A break in the first game of the second gave Raducanu sight of the next round, and when a second break soon followed, she was in total control and sealed the match courtesy of the first of three match points.

Earlier, British No. 1 Katie Boulter produced a commanding performance to beat Yuan Yue 7-5 7-6(1) to make the second round for only the second time in her career.

She hit big from the baseline, was not afraid to come in when required and served with intent.

However, the match was not all plain sailing. Boulter served for the match in the 10th game of the set, passed on two match points to be broken but then steadied herself to sail through the tie-break.