Emma Raducanu was knocked out in opening spherical of the US Open by Sofia Kenin in a battle of former Grand Slam champions on Tuesday night time in New York.
Raducanu has struggled to recapture the magic of her fairy-tale run at Flushing Meadows three years in the past when she turned the primary qualifier to win a Grand Slam.
And American Kenin despatched Raducanu packing with a 6-1 3-6 6-4 victory in entrance of a sparse crowd on Grandstand.
An emotional Raducanu wiped away tears when requested how she was feeling throughout her press convention.
“I feel down, I feel sad. Obviously, this is a tournament I really want to do well in so… after the first set I was outplayed completely and I think I did well to equal it,” she mentioned.
“The third set was fairly high-level tennis and I feel sure components of my recreation in coping with her velocity of shot, coping with her tempo, sure components I truly executed higher than in earlier matches.
“I came across a very in-form opponent, and she played really well.”
Kenin ripped by the opening set by successful six straight video games earlier than Raducanu, who reached the fourth spherical at Wimbledon this yr, upped her stage within the second set.
The Briton had missed three break factors of her personal within the first set, however made a transfer at first of the second by taking Kenin’s serve.
Kenin recovered the break straight again however an important level at 2-2 and 15-15, the place Raducanu hit a backhand winner down the road, modified the momentum of the second set.
It helped her break, with 2020 Australian Open champion Kenin shedding her cool by hitting the ball into the backboard. Two good winners noticed Raducanu take a second break and the second set in model.
Nevertheless, Raducanu ran out of steam, dropping serve with a double fault within the fifth recreation of the decider as she was damaged and there was no method again from there as Kenin clinically noticed it out.
Raducanu wiped away tears throughout her press convention when requested how she was feeling after defeat to Kenin
Having performed only one event since Wimbledon and skipping the Olympics to give attention to her preparation for the US Open, Raducanu might be desperately upset to fall on the first hurdle and questions stay over the route of her profession.
In her defence, it was a tricky draw for Raducanu in opposition to the previous world No 4, who confirmed a few of her finest kind.
Raducanu plans to return to the drafting board earlier than enjoying on the Korea Open in Seoul on September 16 – stay on Sky Sports activities Tennis.
Carlos Alcaraz was given a scare by Australian qualifier Li Tu earlier than happening to seal a 6-2 4-6 6-3 6-1 victory.
The 21-year-old, who gained the US Open in 2022, confirmed no indicators that his motion was restricted by a proper ankle harm he suffered throughout a follow session on Saturday.
He prolonged his Grand Slam match-winning streak to fifteen in opposition to the world No 186 qualifier.
“Obviously, it surprised me a little bit. The first set, it was obvious that he started the match nervous. But after the first set, I think he started to enjoy it and play great tennis,” Alcaraz instructed on-court interviewer Nick Kyrgios.
“I was playing great, probably a few mistakes that I had. He is a great player. I’m going to follow him – his results – from now because I’m pretty sure if he is playing at this level, I’m going to see him around very, very soon.”
Up subsequent for Alcaraz is 2021 quarter-finalist Botic van de Zandschulp, who beat Denis Shapovalov 6-4 7-5 6-4.
Frosty reception for Sinner
World No 1 Jannik Sinner admits he has endured a frosty reception from fellow gamers on the US Open following his failed anti-doping assessments controversy.
The Italian was enjoying his first match since he escaped a ban regardless of two failed assessments earlier this yr.
Sinner, who was cleared of fault or negligence by an impartial tribunal, has defended himself stoutly amid criticism he was proven favouritism with the velocity by which his case was resolved.
It initially regarded just like the drama had taken its toll as American Mackenzie McDonald gained the primary set after which had a break of serve within the second, however Sinner assumed management and earned a 2-6 6-2 6-1 6-2 first-round victory.
Sinner mentioned he had been happy by the group’s response, however locker room reception had been a bit cooler.
“I’m curious to see how the reaction of the fans has been, but it has been very positive,” he mentioned.
“I was very glad how the support was, also playing against an American, it’s a little bit different.
“So I am joyful [with] how I dealt with these conditions, it was not straightforward. So I feel quite a lot of constructive issues from at present, and so let’s hold seeing what’s coming within the subsequent spherical.
“There are some reaction from other players. I cannot really control what they think.
“You already know, that is how all the pieces went and the way it was. I can not management the gamers’ response, and if I’ve one thing to say to somebody, I’m going there privately, as a result of I am this sort of individual.
“Overall, it has been not bad. So I’m happy about that.”
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