Emma Raducanu Faces Heartbreak and Reflection After U.S. Open Defeat

Emma Raducanu, the 2021 U.S. Open champion, expressed sadness after losing in the first round to Sofia Kenin. Reflecting on her past victories and recent struggles, Raducanu plans to train and analyze her performance ahead of the Korea Open in Seoul on September 16.

Emma Raducanu, visibly emotional at her post-match press conference, spoke about her disappointment after losing to Sofia Kenin 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 in the opening round of the U.S. Open. The 2021 champion remains winless at the tournament since her historic victory.

'I feel down. I feel sad,' Raducanu admitted, struggling to find the right words. Three years ago, Raducanu made history at the U.S. Open as the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam singles title. However, she has faced setbacks, being eliminated in the first round last year and missing the event due to surgeries on both wrists and an ankle.

Despite her efforts, Raducanu was outplayed by Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion, who entered the match with renewed confidence. Kenin finished with 45 winners, almost double Raducanu's 24. 'She's a Slam champion for a reason,' Raducanu acknowledged. Reflecting on her lack of recent match play, she revealed it was a collective decision by her team to limit her action ahead of the tournament.

Raducanu now looks forward to competing in the Korea Open starting in Seoul on September 16. 'Until then, I'll go back to the drawing board and train, analyze where I went wrong, and try to improve for the rest of the season,' she said. While the Grand Slams are over for this year, Raducanu remains focused on preparing for the Australian Open early next season.

(With inputs from agencies.)