“It’s a great learning experience for me going forward,” Raducanu said in a television interview the following day. “Next time, hopefully, I’ll be better prepared.”

She was. 

The 21-year-old returned to the scene of her teenage ordeal on Wednesday an infinitely more composed and accomplished player, delivering an artful and assured performance to dismantle Belgium’s Elise Mertens 6-1, 6-2. 

Raducanu is now through to the third round of a major for the first time since her historic run to the 2021 US Open title, which came barely two months after her baptism of fire against Tomljanovic, and while it is far too soon to start imagining that she might mount a similar run at her home slam, she is playing with a quality and abandon that will inevitably evoke memories of her New York fairy tale.

Much has changed since that landmark victory, of course, the intervening years having brought a smorgasbord of injuries and coaching changes, not to mention surgery on both wrists and an ankle last summer. A string of lucrative commercial endorsements and high-profile social engagements led many to question her commitment to the game, and perhaps understandably there have been times when Raducanu appeared a shadow of her sunny 18-year-old self. Yet the megawatt smile that illuminated Flushing Meadows three summers ago is back on her face, and the joy has returned to her tennis. Raducanu is accentuating the positives. 

“I didn’t even think of that,” she said when reminded that she had not played on No 1 Court since facing Tomljanovic. “When I think of Court One, I just think of that amazing win against Sorana [Cirstea, who she defeated in the third round in 2021]. I think that was my first coming out into tennis society, if you would like to call it. 

“I just have such amazing memories from that court, and that match in particular. It was the first time playing on a court that size, the crowd, the environment, the feeling of adjusting at the start to playing on a court that big. So I only have good memories of playing on that court.”

She will have even better ones now. This was a far cry from Raducanu’s error-strewn win over Mexico’s Renata Zarazúa in the previous round, which she described as a case of “winning ugly”. Powerful and precise off the ground, inventive and resourceful in defence, Raducanu left Mertens dumbfounded with the quality of her ball-striking and her outstanding speed and agility. The Briton rattled through the opening five games, and although the 33rd-ranked Mertens rallied to hold from 0-40 down at the start of the second set, Raducanu broke at the next time of asking with a brilliant backhand pass. She would not relinquish her lead.

Raducanu will now face Maria Sakkari, the Greek ninth seed, whom she defeated in the US Open semi-finals in their only previous meeting.

“The circumstances are different in a third round compared to a semi-final,” said Raducanu. “At the time the dynamics were also different, I was an unknown player pretty much. 

“She’s top 10 in the world, so it’s going to be a really difficult one, but again one where I’m the complete underdog, and I can just enjoy playing in my home slam and just keep having fun and trying to stay an extra day.”

There will be more fun when Raducanu partners Andy Murray in the mixed doubles, an offer she received by text message on Tuesday evening.

“For me, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Raducanu. “I think some things are bigger than just tennis. I think some things are a once-in-a-lifetime memory that you’re going to have for the rest of your life. To play at Wimbledon with Andy Murray, those things don’t come by.  

“At the end of my life, at the end of my career when I’m like 70 years old, I know I’m going to have that memory of playing Wimbledon with Andy Murray on a home slam.”  

The British pair will play their opener against Marcelo Arévalo of El Salvador and China’s Shuai Zhang later this week. 

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The American ended it, in singles at least, feeling sick to the core after she was consigned to defeat by Elise Mertens, the Belgian world No 28, for the third time in three meetings. 

In the biggest upset so far in the women’s draw at Roland Garros, Mertens, roared on by a vocal Belgian contingent on Court Philippe Chatrier, claimed a 6-1, 6-3 win over the third seed to advance to the second week in Paris for the third time in her career. 

It was a performance full of poise and assurance from Mertens, who claimed she was confident beforehand and made good on that declaration, tailoring her game to the blustery conditions to discomfit Pegula with her power and variety. 

For Pegula, however, it was a day to forget. For a set, the 29-year-old looked a shadow of the player who has reached the last eight at four of the past five majors, struggling to find ways to hurt Mertens as she committed an uncharacteristic 28 unforced errors. Normally so composed and serene under pressure, Pegula wore a look of resignation for much of the contest, rallying briefly midway through the second set only to be thwarted by an opponent who seemed to read her intentions at every turn.

“I feel like I was still playing good points,” said Pegula, for whom salvation may yet come in the women’s doubles, in which she and Coco Gauff, finalists last year, are seeded second. 

“Elise was just being really tough, not making a lot of errors and making me play every single ball. And with the windy conditions, I felt like it definitely played into her game.

“She returned well and I thought that she used the wind on both sides to her advantage. She was playing aggressive on the side with the wind and then, against the wind, I think she was playing some really good defence.”

Mertens ripped through the first set in less than half an hour before holding her nerve and her serve at 4-3 in the second as Pegula battled to find a way back. That game, a 15-minute tour de force from the Belgian full of draining all-court rallies, proved key. Three times Pegula held break points, three times Mertens denied her, most impressively when she lashed a forehand winner to cap a superb cat-and-mouse exchange.  

“I played an incredible first set,” said Mertens, who will face Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, the finalist of two years ago, for a place in the last eight. 

“Of course, I knew that she was going to come back. She’s a great competitor, a great player and fighter. So I think the game from 4-3 to 5-3 was crucial to get that one and to get the win. The confidence was there today.”

Elsewhere, Aryna Sabalenka, the Belarusian second seed, declined to hold an open press conference following her 6-2, 6-2 win against Kamilla Rakhimova of Russia. Sabalenka said she “did not feel safe” after being pressed by a Ukrainian journalist to state her position on her country’s role in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine after her victory over fellow countrywoman Iryna Shymanovich in the previous round.

“After my match I spoke with the media like I normally do,” Sabalenka told an unnamed group of reporters selected by tournament officials. “I know they still expect some questions that are more about the politics and not so much about my tennis.  

“For many months now, I have answered these questions at tournaments and been very clear in my feelings and my thoughts. These questions do not bother me after my matches. I know that I have to provide answers to the media on things not related to my tennis or my matches, but on Wednesday I did not feel safe in press conference.  

“I should be able to feel safe when I do interviews with the journalists after my matches. For my own mental health and well-being, I have decided to take myself out of this situation today, and the tournament has supported me in this decision. It hasn’t been an easy few days, and now my focus is continue to play well here in Paris.”

Sabalenka’s refusal to take questions from independent journalists bore echoes of Naomi Osaka’s decision to skip press duties at Roland Garros on mental health grounds in 2021. On that occasion, Osaka was fined and subsequently withdrew from the tournament.

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