In her two matches following illness, Raducanu appeared to be lacking in both energy and confidence as she showed little emotion on court.
But, 16 days after her first-round exit at Roland Garros, the Briton looked much more relaxed on Andy Murray Arena.
She smiled at the crowd during her warm-up, while there was a celebratory roar or fist pump after every point she won.
“The way I was feeling on the court, the way I was moving, the way I was expressing myself, just the whole package – not necessarily the tennis – just how I kind of was acting on the court, I really enjoyed it,” Raducanu said.
“I was just feeding off the atmosphere, and it felt free, it felt clear, and a lot of clarity. Not necessarily thinking too much, not trying to do too much. It felt very natural.”
The 2021 US Open champion held a commanding 3-0 lead before rain halted play – but that would not disrupt her rhythm.
She captured the first set without reply after just 20 minutes on court, winning 25 of the 31 points played – hitting 11 winners and just two unforced errors.
Raducanu maintained that excellent level to begin the second set with a break of serve – although she would not have it entirely her own way.
A Queen’s quarter-finalist last year, Raducanu was hampered by double-faults as she allowed Blinkova back in – with four successive breaks of serve tying the set at three games apiece.
However, Raducanu broke again, courtesy of a fortuitous net cord, to set up the chance to serve out the match, and she wore a beaming smile in the sunshine as a closing backhand winner down the line on her second match point was met by huge cheers.
Writing ‘back home’ with a heart on a TV camera lens before exiting the court, Raducanu will return to face Romanian seventh seed Sorana Cirstea in the second round.
