Former champion Raducanu out in US Open first round

Emma Raducanu says she wants to play more matches before Grand Slam tournaments after losing to Sofia Kenin in the US Open first round.

Britain’s Raducanu, who lost 6-1 3-6 6-4, was searching for her first victory in New York since unexpectedly winning the title in 2021 as a teenage qualifier.

She fell in the first round in 2022 and missed last year’s tournament as she recovered from wrist and ankle surgery.

Raducanu played just one tournament between Wimbledon in July and the US Open, reaching the quarter-finals in Washington earlier this month.

The 21-year-old fought back tears in a news conference after her loss to fellow Grand Slam champion Kenin and said she felt “sad” and “down”.

She said she would “learn from it” and “manage my schedule slightly differently” for future Grand Slams.

“I would like to play more matches,” Raducanu told BBC 5 Live.

“I wouldn’t probably still play every single tournament leading up, but I would probably play more than I did this time.

“It’s a lesson to learn for next year.”

Source: BBC