Emma Raducanu's heartbreak at the US Open continues as Sofia Kenin defeats her in a battle of former Grand Slam champions, extending Raducanu's wait for another win.
A tearful Emma Raducanu expressed her sadness as she continues to wait for her first win at the US Open since her unforgettable 2021 victory.
The 21-year-old astonished the world three years ago by clinching the title in just her third senior tournament. However, since then, the venue hasn't been as favorable for her.
Following a first-round exit in 2022 and an absence last year due to injury, Sofia Kenin added to Raducanu's woes by securing a 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 victory on the Grandstand court.
Sofia Kenin overcame Raducanu in a clash between former Grand Slam champions. pic.twitter.com/K0vFd7KlEK
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 28, 2024
When asked about her feelings after the defeat, she paused, fighting back tears, and said, 'Yeah, I feel down, like I feel sad.'
'This is a tournament I really want to do well in.'
She continued: 'I'm just going to go back to the drawing board, train, and analyze where I went wrong, and try to improve for the rest of the season.'
'Obviously, the Grand Slam tournaments are done for this year, but it's not too long until the Australian Open comes around again.'
With only one tournament appearance since Wimbledon and opting out of the Olympics to prioritize the US Open, uncertainties about the future course of her career persist.
She admitted that she might have got her preparation wrong.
'I probably would have preferred to play a bit more before entering the US Open,' she remarked.
'I know that when I have a lot of matches under my belt, just like every player, I feel really good and everything seems automatic.'
'I can learn from this experience. And, you know, adjust my schedule a bit differently.
‘It wasn’t solely my decision; it was more of a collective choice, and that's how things unfolded. Unfortunately, I can't change the past,’
Raducanu faced a challenging draw against the former Australian Open champion, who displayed some of her finest form.
Kenin capitalized on Raducanu's serve, breaking it three times to secure a commanding first set win.
The match at Grandstand between Raducanu and Kenin is currently tied 👀 pic.twitter.com/tXL2TfC3tq
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 28, 2024
The British player missed three break points of her own in the first set but made a strong move at the start of the second by breaking Kenin's serve.
The American managed to regain her footing, but the pivotal moment came at 2-2 and 15-15 when Raducanu executed a stunning backhand winner down the line, shifting the momentum of the second set.
This momentum shift allowed Raducanu to break Kenin, who displayed her frustration by striking the ball into the backboard. Raducanu capitalized on this, securing two stunning winners that helped her break again and clinch the set impressively.
However, the match took a turn for the worse for the Brit in the fifth game of the final set as she lost her serve, allowing Kenin to expertly finish the match.
