Emma Raducanu ‘stays calm’ and wins on US hard court return, signs fans’ arms and explains why she is a Slytherin after bizarre Harry Potter question

There's something about playing in the US that brings the best out of Emma Raducanu.

The 19-year-old got the US hard court season off to a brilliant start with a 6-4 6-2 victory at her debut performance at the Citi Open in Washington, DC.

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It was an impressive performance against Louisa Chirico in gruelling humid conditions.

Raducanu is building up to her US Open title defence later in August and it was the ideal confidence boost, with just 18 unforced errors in the whole match.

It was her first match since her second round defeat at Wimbledon and the world number 10 will face Camila Osorio in the next round.

"It definitely feels really good to get a win here in D.C.," she said in her post-match press conference.

"After not playing for quite a bit after Wimbledon or many matches at all this year, I think it's a really nice feeling just to get on the board.

"I think playing any first round is always pretty challenging. Then when you're not necessarily that match-sharp, small things you don't necessarily get right. It's just important to stay calm.”

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Raducanu continues to be a popular with the fans in America after her unprecedented success at last year’s US Open.

She signed autographs for fans at the Citi Open, with a number of kids wanting her signature on their arms.

Raducanu also faced some unusual questions from the press after her victory, including which Hogwarts house she would be in.

“I’d be a Slytherin, for sure,” she said.

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“I just think that, you know, they haven’t got a great rep, but I just think they are really, hmm, cool.

“But they have like super - they’re pretty, in a way, brutal, but - I don’t know.

“They have got a, just mysterious, sort of side to them, and I like that.”