![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/static-assets\/images\/newsletter\/sport\/sport-135x135.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Lily Miyazaki branded her US Open debut \u201csurreal\u201d after winning her first match at a grand slam.<\/p>\n
There were echoes of Emma Raducanu after the 27-year-old qualifier, Britain\u2019s sole representative on day one, beat Russian Margarita Betova 6-3 6-3.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s huge for me, I think,\u201d said Miyazaki. \u201cQualifying was also, like, obviously a huge confidence booster, but yeah, winning at the main draw is, it just feels a bit surreal.\u201d<\/p>\n
The world number 199 may be unlikely to emulate Raducanu\u2019s fairy-tale title win two years ago, but she still secured a near-\u00a3100,000 pay day and a high-profile second-round match against Olympic champion Belinda Bencic.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/08\/28\/21\/ae1b7f485e9a1573db0ffa8434d81337Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNjkzMzM5MDgy-2.72521335.jpg\")
\n![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/08\/24\/10\/22114559-846d2a3e-5b08-47b6-8837-e03ffae2508c.jpg\")
\n![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/08\/29\/03\/29-4b637847d1af4599971ef7618d48603b.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean, what Emma did was incredible,\u201d added Miyazaki. \u201cI\u2019m not sure where I was. I think I was at a tournament. I don\u2019t know, a 25K in Portugal or something.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously all the players were following her results, and it was incredible the way she played.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know her too well, but I have hit with her a few times at the National Tennis Centre. Yeah, I think what she did inspired a lot of people.\u201d<\/p>\n
While the other six British players in the main draw had the day off, Miyazaki took on the experienced Betova, who was playing under a protected ranking after coming back from having a child.<\/p>\n
Miyazaki, who moved to London aged 10 but only changed allegiance from Japan last year, overcame an early break and won six games in a row to take control before winning with her second match point.<\/p>\n
Miyazaki joked that she had watched 15th seed Bencic far more than the Swiss will have watched her.<\/p>\n
She added: \u201cYeah, I\u2019m really looking forward to it. She\u2019s a great player obviously.<\/p>\n
\n![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/08\/28\/21\/28-a9017be3adb143f587da35e532d6afe8.jpg\")
\n![](\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2023\/08\/28\/18\/085f26b727bfb63a8801487f204f645eY29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNjkzMjUyODk3-2.72915446.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s actually funny, when I lived in Switzerland, I played her when I was about nine years old and she must have been about seven or eight.<\/p>\n
\u201cI remember even back then she was taking the ball so early. Half volleying, drive volleying, everything. Yeah, I expect a really tough match.\u201d<\/p>\n