Emma Raducanu moved a step closer to a blockbuster meeting with Iga Swiatek, after thrashing Storm Sanders 6-1 6-2 in the first round of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart. 

Raducanu needed little over an hour to beat the Australian qualifier –– securing her first professional tournament win on clay in dominant fashion. 

"It's been a good start for me to the clay season," she said.

"I'm really excited to spend more time on this surface and really happy with my performance."

Raducanu getting to grips with clay

The US Open champion hadn’t played a senior match on clay until last weekend’s Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers against the Czech Republic. 

After beating world number 50 Terez Martincova in her opening match, she lost convincingly to former French Open finalist Marketa Vondrousova as Great Britain failed to reach the finals. 

But this latest performance against Sanders will give the Brit confidence that she can succeed on the surface. 

PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC - APRIL 16: Emma Raducanu of Great Britain in action against Marketa Vondrousova of Czech Republic during day two of the Billie Jean King Cup Play-Off match between the Czech Republic and Great Britain at the Tennis Club 1. CLTK Prague on April 16, 2022 in Prague, Czech Republic. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

"It has been difficult to transition to clay. Last week I was being taught how to slide on clay using a medicine ball," she stressed. 

"To have come this far in the space of a week I am very happy. It is just about being comfortable with the unstable surface underneath."

No signs of blisters

Raducanu has struggled with injuries this season and has been hampered by blisters on more than one occasion. 

At the Australian Open, the teenager suffered blisters on her right hand against Danka Kovinic and eventually succumbed to a three-set defeat. 

And in Prague last week, she suffered the same problem on her right foot –– later revealing she was bathing her feet in surgical spirit every day to try and overcome the problem. 

But Raducanu appeared unaffected against Sanders and produced arguably her most complete performance since the final of the US Open. 

Next up is another unseeded player in Tamara Korpatsch. If the Brit can produce a similar level to the one she showed against Sanders then she’ll be tough to beat. 

Swiatek breezes through 

New world number one Swiatek also eased through her first match against Germany’s Eva Lys. 

The Polish star, who assumed the number one ranking from Ashleigh Barty, following the Australian’s retirement, is now on a run of 20 consecutive victories.

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - APRIL 02: Iga Swiatek of Poland returns a shot to Naomi Osaka of Japan during the women's final of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on April 02, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

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