Grand Slam winners Emma Raducanu and Naomi Osaka will face each other for the first time in their careers at the Mubadala Citi DC Open.

Both kicked off their North American hard-court swing with straight-set victories in Washington DC as 2021 US Open winner Raducanu upset seventh seed Marta Kostyuk 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 and not long after, four-time major champion Osaka defeated Yulia Putintseva 6-2, 7-5.

The pair will now meet in the second round and Raducanu admits it will be a “great test”.

“I think it’s a great match for a lot of spectators, which is great to be a part of,” the 22-year-old said. “I felt the same way when I played Aryna [Sabalenka] at Wimbledon. That atmosphere was unbeatable for me. I think all the exposure I get to these top opponents … she’s won four Grand Slams, so an i

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