British number one Emma Raducanu continued her strong North American hard-court run with a 6-2 6-4 victory over Elena-Gabriela Ruse at the Canadian Open.
The win, building on her Washington Open semi-final appearance, moves the 22-year-old into the second round against American 32nd seed Peyton Stearns.
Raducanu showed resilience, saving five break points in her opening service game before dominating the first set.
She attributed her success to putting aside her friendship with Ruse and backing up her previous good performance.
This consistent form on hard courts is crucial as Raducanu prepares for the US Open, a tournament she won in 2021.
However, fellow Briton Katie Boulter’s tournament ended swiftly, as she lost 6-1 7-5 to Mexico’s Renata Zarazua in the first round.
