Emma Raducanu won her first match of 2023 on the WTA Tour with a victory over Linda Fruhvirtova in the first round of the ASB Classic in Auckland.

Raducanu dropped her first set to the 17-year-old from the Czech Republic, but bounced back to win the second and third despite a lengthy suspension due to rain.

The 78th ranked Brit finished on top 4-6 6-4 6-2 against the relatively evenly matched Fruhvirtova, who is only one rank behind.

Raducanu will face 24-year-old Viktoria Kuzmova from the Slovak Republic in the round of 16.

The British number one is hoping for an injury-free year having struggled for form and fitness on the WTA tour since becoming the first qualifier to win a grand slam title when winning the US Open in 2021.

Raducanu, who was made an MBE last month, has two other targets for 2023, telling wtatennis.com: ā€œFor a results goal Iā€™d say itā€™s to win a title, and three Iā€™d say is to be playing fearless tennis.

ā€œJust not thinking about consequences. Just going for it. Thatā€™s my goal for this year.ā€

Raducanuā€™s season was cut short in October due to a wrist injury, but she embarked on an intense two-month fitness regime without touching a tennis racket soon after.

She has been working with Andy Murrayā€™s former conditioning coach Jez Green and hopes she will be better equipped all-round to deal with the rigours of the senior tour.

She said: ā€œI think right now because Iā€™m still trying to find my timing and groove and my tennis, itā€™s a bit early to tell.

ā€œBut once I settle into that I think the physical side will definitely have made a difference because thereā€™s no way it canā€™t have.

ā€œBut Iā€™m also not ignorant in thinking two months is going to solve my entire physical condition, itā€™s going to take more time, over a year or two to redevelop.ā€