Emma Raducanu Plans More Matches After US Open Loss

Emma Raducanu expressed a desire to play more matches before Grand Slam tournaments following her first-round loss to Sofia Kenin at the US Open. Raducanu, who lost 6-1, 3-6, 6-4, was seeking her first victory in New York since her surprising 2021 title win as a teenage qualifier. She had fallen in the first round in 2022 and missed last year’s tournament due to wrist and ankle surgeries.

Raducanu played only one tournament between Wimbledon in July and the US Open, reaching the quarter-finals in Washington. After her defeat, the 21-year-old fought back tears during a news conference, feeling “sad” and “down.” She acknowledged a lack of match sharpness and stated she would adjust her schedule for future Grand Slams aiming to play more matches before such tournaments.

Raducanu, who skipped this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris and missed WTA 1,000 events in Toronto and Cincinnati, admitted that her slow start against Kenin contributed to her loss. Despite rallying in the second and third sets, she struggled with Kenin’s aggressive play and ultimately lost after Kenin secured the match on her first match point.

Kenin, who also has struggled for form since her 2020 Australian Open victory, praised Raducanu’s performance and will face Jessica Pegula next. Emma Raducanu, currently ranked 71st, reflected on her year, noting that returning to the top 100 after seven months off and three surgeries was a significant achievement. She plans to use this experience to refine her approach for future tournaments, recognizing it as “a lesson to learn for next year.”

BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller noted that Kenin’s aggressive start and decisive serving played a crucial role in the match while Raducanu’s lack of recent match play affected her performance.