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Emma Raducanu opened her grass-court season with a heartening 6-1, 6-4 win over Ena Shibahara in the first round of the Rothesay Open – and a sharp jab at the Brazilian umpire Ana ­Carvalho. Her straight-sets victory over the ­Japanese qualifier in Nottingham was followed by a pointed attack on the standard of the officiating. There is no Hawk-Eye system in operation at the tournament and Raducanu was distinctly unimpressed after a series of tight calls went against her.

“I feel like I was playing two v one on court – it was insane,” said Raducanu. “I would have used probably at least four challenges [if we’d had them]. “I think a lot of the time they go both ways.



Today I felt they were all against me but it just makes me feel better that I managed to beat her and the umpire as well. It is difficult when there is no challenge but it is something everyone has to deal with. Maybe it was just trying to make the match more competitive.

‘A year ago I was on a mobility scooter’: Emma Raducanu happy to be injury free Read more “It’s something I had to deal with and overcome. I am very pleased with the attitude I came out with from the get-go and also having to deal with the adversity too.” Raducanu’s displeasure peaked when the umpire overturned a line judge’s out call for a backhand ­volley from Shibahara in the third game – the only one the former world No 10, currently down at 279 in the rankings after her injury problems – won in the first set.

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