Impressive Raducanu beats Kasatkina in Strasbourg

Emma Raducanu produced an encouraging show to scope nan 2nd information successful Strasbourg arsenic she continued to build momentum earlier nan French Open.

The British number two, who accepted a precocious wildcard for nan tournament, was successful good shape successful a 6-1 6-3 triumph complete world number 17 Daria Kasatkina.

World number 43 Raducanu had not won a group successful 3 erstwhile meetings pinch Kasatkina but nan inconsistent Australian grounded to triumph a azygous work game.

Raducanu will look American Danielle Collins successful nan past 16 arsenic she continues her preparations for nan French Open, which originates connected Sunday.

"I'm really proud of my capacity - I was very fierce and I maintained my attraction successful nan 2nd group erstwhile it was getting close," Raducanu, 22, said afterwards.

"I deliberation I've been building towards this. It's a awesome feeling.

"As I walk much clip connected clay I'm opening to for illustration it much and more. I'm building my narration pinch nan surface."

After reaching nan Miami Open quarter-finals successful March and moving backmost wrong nan world's apical 50, Raducanu chose to return a "physical and mental" break from competitory action.

That meant she did not statesman her clay tribunal plaything until a period later successful Madrid.

A second-round exit successful nan Spanish superior was followed by past week's tally to nan Italian Open 4th round, wherever she managed to triumph 3 clay-court matches successful a statement for nan first clip successful her career.

Victory complete Kasatkina was different denotation nan Briton is hitting her stride astatine nan perfect clip earlier her 2nd French Open run begins.

The players exchanged breaks of service successful a scrappy commencement to nan lucifer but, aft being talented a 2nd crippled by Kasatkina, Raducanu took charge.

A clasp of service without reply allowed her to turn successful assurance and she was soon dictating play pinch punishing, powerful groundstrokes.

Taking afloat advantage of her opponent's continued struggles connected serve, Raducanu reeled disconnected 5 consecutive games to triumph her first group successful 4 meetings pinch Kasatkina.

The 2nd group was not straightforward. Raducanu's opening clasp of service proved invaluable arsenic it was followed by a tally of 7 consecutive breaks, pinch erstwhile world number 8 Kasatkina digging in.

Raducanu could not hide her delight aft unleashing a superb backhand down nan statement to adjacent successful connected victory, yet ending Kasatkina's guidance pinch her 4th lucifer point.

Raducanu reached nan 2nd information successful her only erstwhile Roland Garros quality successful 2022.

The 2021 US Open champion is presently moving pinch Mark Petchey - a erstwhile coach of Andy Murray - connected an informal basis, having been without a full-time coach since January.

Elsewhere connected Monday, chap Briton Harriet Dart was knocked retired successful nan first information of French Open qualifying, losing 6-1 6-2 to Ukrainian 21-year-old Anastasiya Soboleva.

Heather Watson and Francesca Jones will statesman their bids to subordinate Raducanu, Katie Boulter and Sonay Kartal successful nan main tie connected Tuesday.