Emma Raducanu defeated Japanâs Moyuka Uchijima in straight sets to reach the second round of the Korea Open.Â
The Brit was in cruise control for the majority of the match, but was made to work for the win as the Japanese star rallied from match point down to win four games on the bounce.
In the end, Raducanu emerged a 6-2 6-4 victor ââ setting up a clash with Belgiumâs Yanina Wickmayer tomorrow.Â
Raducanu survives late scare
Having suffered another painful early exit at the Slovenia Open last week, Raducanu arrived in Korea terribly out of form.
However, as has been the case for the majority of this year, itâs almost impossible to predict which Raducanu is going to show up.
This time around, the teenager was on song ââ producing some excellent tennis and outclassing her Japanese opponent.Â
WATCH: Emma Raducanu reaches round two of the Korea Open
Having wrapped up the first set in under half an hour, Raducanu looked on course to bagel Uchijima in the second set and had match point at 5-0 up.
Yet, the 19-year-old failed to close out the match on that occasion and lost the next four games.
Raducanu eventually regained her composure and closed out the set and the match 6-4.Â
What did Raducanu say?
Speaking after the match, Raducanu emphasised her ambition to go all the way in South Korea but to ensure she also plays with freedom on the court.Â
"My goal on the court is to keep trying to swing freer and freer in each match," she said.
"And my other goal is to try and stay in [South] Korea for as long as possible."
Raducanu, who admitted South Korea and Spurs star Son Heung-min was an inspiration of hers, stressed that she has fallen in love with the country.
"Honestly, I love it so much here in [South] Korea. I feel so at home here. Everything is so much better. Itâs so clean, the food is unbelievable. I just want to spend as much time as I can in [South] Korea as I can."
She added: "I think it was overall a pretty solid match until the end of the second set.
"Itâs tough when you havenât been playing that many matches, youâre not as used to those situations.
âIâm really happy with the way I regrouped and held the serve on that last game because it was really important to win that game.
âI think I was just thinking of my first serve. Because I knew that if I got a good first serve it would help me a lot. I was trying to hit an ace and I did, I hit two. My serves helped me out a lot.â