Emma Raducanu vs Ena Shibahara LIVE: Tennis scores and updates from Nottingham Open
Follow all the live action from Emma Raducanu’s return to grass ahead of Wimbledon this summer
Emma Raducanu beat Ena Shibahara in straight sets on her first game on grass for over 700 days at the Nottingham Open.
The 21-year-old made the most of the home advantage, taking the first set 5-1, and then despite a small falter at 5-1 up in the second when she was broken twice in succession, she fought back to win the match.
Raducanu skipped the French Open to focus on her fitness, but said she was in a good place ahead of the Nottingham Open, and showed some of what she is capable of in her first match, where she served four aces and wrapped up victory in an hour and 10 minutes.
Ons Jabeur is also in action and the former Wimbledon finalist takes on Camila Osorio later today.
Andy Murray will begin his grass court season in Stuttgart as his Wimbledon preparation could also be the start of a farewell, and he has previously indicated this could be his final season before retirement.
Defending champion Katie Boulter edged past Harriet Dart yesterday, with the latter left furious after a line call. Dart offered a £50,000 bet to the umpire in the ill-tempered affair.
Relive all the action from Nottingham below plus the latest from Stuttgart as Andy Murray returns:
*Andy Murray 0-1 Marcos Giron
Murray tries to get a bit of rhythm going but laces a couple of shots into the net allowing Giron to get away on the scoreboard. The longest rally of the game so far sees Giron come up to the net and hook a forehand to Murray’s right.
The Scot shuffles across and looks for the lob only managing to hit the ball over the back of the court. Giron holds serve.
Andy Murray 0-0 Marcos Giron*
Marcos Giron will serve first in this match. Andy Murray has never faced the American before so this is a new experience for him.
Giron opens up with a serve that clips the net. His second serve is pumped back by Murray but the American unleashes on a backhand that lands perfectly on the sideline to bring him the first point of the match.
Andy Murray vs Marcos Giron
Both players now go through a warm-up. This match is also Murray’s 999th professional match. Can he can through it with a win to set up an all-British clash with Jack Draper in round two?
Andy Murray vs Marcos Giron
Here come the players.
Marcos Giron, of the USA, heads out with his sleeveless vest and backwards hat. Andy Murray follows him and gets a fine round of applause from the crowd.
This should be an interesting match. Murray is playing here for the second time and reached the final here in 2022 before losing to Mateo Berrettini.
Emma Raducanu wins in straight sets against Ena Shibahara
Shibahara is a game away from levelling here, having been 5-1 down in the second set, but Raducanu has just unleashed an impressive return. She knew Shibahara would be coming to the net and squeezed the ball past her to win the point.
But Raducanu cannot follow it up, and the next point is decided after the ball rebounds off the frame of the racket, but she is handed a reprieve when Shibahara has a wild swipe at a ball that goes way out.
Raducanu produces another stunning return to set up match point on her opponent’s serve having failed to do so twice on her own serve.
The first serve is into the net, and on second serve, Raducanu does win! 713 days after she last stepped onto a grass court, Raducanu is back to winning ways!
Andy Murray vs Marcos Giron
Matteo Berrettini has triumphed in a three-hour contest against Roman Safiullin winning 7-6 5-7 7-5 across three sets. Up next in Stuttgart will be Andy Murray taking on Marcos Giron.
Emma Raducanu 6-1 5-4 Ena Shibahara - BREAK
Raducanu is still serving for the match, but her first shot goes long, and again she’s unhappy with the umpire’s decision.
She bounces back to win the next point, lets out a big rousing ‘come on!’ and she might have needed that.
An attempted lob goes long, and Shibahara has the advantage. Raducanu had been serving for the match, but now she has two break points to contend with.
She is immediately forced onto a second serve, but saves one of them with a good kick serve, and she does manage to save the second when Shibahara overhits an attempted winner.
Shibahara is manipulating Raducanu around the court and she forces another break point after deuce, and she breaks again!
Emma Raducanu 6-1 5-3 Ena Shibahara
Shibahara has found something in this match, going 40-0 up on her own serve with a stunning half volley.
This is not the form she has shown in the match so far and she holds the game to love.
Emma Raducanu 6-1 5-2 Ena Shibahara - BREAK
Raducanu is serving for the match, she drops the first point on her serve, only the eighth of the match so far, but bounces back immediately to make it 15-all.
Shibahara plays a perfect drop shot, leaving Raducanu too much to do, and there is a small chance to extend this match at 15-30, and the Japanese player follows it up to set up two break points.
Shibahara breaks for the first time in the match.
Emma Raducanu 6-1 5-1 Ena Shibahara - BREAK
When the Raducanu return is short, Shibahara is the better serve and volleyer of the two, largely from her doubles experience, but it wasn’t right on that occasion, 0-15.
But when the Brit gets her return right, there is not much Shibahara can do in reply, and she fights hard to carve out three break points.
Raducanu orchestrated that point, forcing Shibahara to cover all of the court, and she was rewarded for it.
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