Emma Raducanu beats top seed in Chicago, early exits for Cam Norrie and Johanna Konta in Cincinnati
Emma Raducanu has set up a second-round clash with former junior world No 1 Clara Burel after beating Belgian top seed Alison van Uytvanck at the Chicago 125 tournament.
The 18-year-old Briton, who earlier this year reached the fourth round of Wimbledon in just her second professional tournament, was a 7-6 (9-7), 6-3 victor over the world No 60.
Raducanu’s compatriot Harriet Dart, meanwhile, was bundled out of the competition’s first round 6-1, 6-7 (2-7), 6-2 by Denmark’s Clara Tauson.
British No 2 Cameron Norrie started strongly in his first-round encounter against John Isner at the Western and Southern Open before being knocked out of the tournament by the 2013 runner-up.
The American, who moved to 2-1 overall against Norrie with the win, dropped the first set to the 25-year-old but battled back and smashed 25 aces for the match to claim a 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 victory.
Earlier in the day, British No 3 Kyle Edmund withdrew from the US Open as the 26-year-old returns to fitness after undergoing surgery on a persistent knee problem in March.
On the women’s side’s of the draw in Cincinnati, Johanna Konta suffered a 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 loss to Karolina Muchova in the first round.
The British No 1, who withdrew in the third round at Montreal last week due to a knee injury, made an assured start and, aided by some lovely forehand strokes, took the opening set.
Rain interrupted the second set in Ohio, where the 30-year-old squandered three break points at 1-1 with missed returns, before Czech Muchova levelled up the match by winning a close tie-break.
The 24-year-old took the deciding set comfortably and will face former US Open champion Bianca Andreescu in round two.