US Open 2024: Emma Raducanu admitted she felt “down” and “sad” after she was beaten by home favourite Sofia Kenin
Emma Raducanu admitted she felt “down” and “sad” after she was beaten by home favourite Sofia Kenin in the first round of the 2024 US Open at Flushing Meadows. The Brit came into the final Grand Slam of the year with high hopes but suffered a disappointing three-set defeat in New York. The 21-year-old will next be in action at the Korea Open next month.
Emma Raducanu was visibly upset after seeing her US Open hopes ended in the first round by American Sofia Kenin.
The Brit, who became the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam when she triumphed at Flushing Meadows in 2021, skipped the Olympics in order to prepare for this tournament, but was beaten 6-1 3-6 6-4 by the 2020 Australian Open champion.
At the scene of her greatest success and after the injury struggles she has gone through to be fit again this season, Raducanu cut an emotional figure in her press conference when reflecting on her loss.
“I feel down, I feel sad,” the 21-year-old said. “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. “The third set was pretty high-level tennis and I think certain parts of my game in dealing with her speed of shot, dealing with her pace, certain parts I actually executed better than in previous matches.
“I came across a very in-form opponent, and she played really well.”
Raducanu survived a break point to hold serve in the opening game of the match before Kenin seized control, winning six games in a row to take a one-set advantage. The pair then shared breaks to begin the second set, Raducanu striking first and Kenin responding immediately, before the Brit broke again in the fifth game to wrestle the momentum away from her opponent.
By now, Raducanu was enjoying regular success on the Kenin serve and she sealed the second set with another break. She will play fellow American Jessica Pegula in the next round, while Raducanu is left to dust herself off and reflect on another disappointing Grand Slam performance.
“I’m just going to go back to the drawing board and train and analyse where I went wrong and try and improve for the rest of the season,” Raducanu added.
“Obviously the Slams are over for this year, but it’s not actually that long until Australia comes around again.”
