Nottingham 2024: Emma Raducanu vs Ena Shibahara preview, head-to-head, prediction, and pick | Rothesay Open
Match Details
Fixture: Emma Raducanu vs [Q] Ena Shibahara
Date: June 11
Tournament: Rothesay Nothingham Open
Round: First Round (Round of 32)
Venue: Nottingham, UK
Category: WTA 250
Surface: Grass
Prize Money: -
Live Telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Sky Sports | Canada - TSN+
Emma Raducanu vs Ena Shibahara preview
Emma Raducanu will return to competition on home soil at the 2024 Nottingham Open, taking on qualifier Ena Shibahara in her opening-round encounter.
The Briton, a former Grand Slam champion, chose to skip the French Open after failing to secure a direct entry into the main draw. Prior to that, she had put together a mediocre 9-7 win-loss record for the season, with a quarterfinal in Stuttgart to show for it.
A return to grass, where she had her first major breakthrough at the 2021 Wimbledon Championships, will hopefully help Raducanu rediscover her best tennis.
Shibahara, meanwhile, will be playing in her first singles main draw of the season. A Grand Slam champion in doubles, the Japanese player has worked hard to get her singles ranking up by competing and doing well on the ITF circuit.
She has already scored a couple of upset wins in the qualification rounds, taking out second seed Alex Eala and 11th seed Madison Inglis, and will thus be looking to build on those results.
Emma Raducanu vs Ena Shibahara head-to-head
Raducanu and Shibahara have never crossed paths on the tour before, and hence, their current head-to-head stands at a 0-0 deadlock.
Emma Raducanu vs Ena Shibahara prediction
Emma Raducanu plays an aggressive brand of tennis that is well-suited for the quick grasscourts. Her willingness to take the ball takes time away from opponents. The Briton will look to dictate play when she steps out on court for her opener against Ena Shibahara.
The Japanese player possesses a more well-rounded game and relies on her all-court skills to win points. Her considerable time on the doubles court has helped her hone her frontcourt skills, which can come in handy on grass. She has also gotten a chance to acquaint herself with the conditions, having already played two matches in the qualifiers.
That said, there are notable weaknesses in Shibahara’s game. The Japanese has a particularly attackable second serve, evidenced by her sub-50% winning percentage behind the shot in her last two matches. Her movement is another area that Raducanu will look to exploit.
There is bound to be some rust for Raducanu, but she will get more comfortable the longer she is on court. Shibahara can cause a few problems with her varies shotmaking, but if the Briton can maintain an attacking mindset, she should be able to power through.
Prediction: Raducanu to win in two tight sets