Emma Raducanu out of US Open in first round as unwanted run drags on | Tennis | Sport

Emma Raducanu has still to win a match at the US Open since her amazing 2021 triumph after crashing out American Sofia Kenin in the first round.

The Bromley-based star’s defence of the title was over after only one match when she lost in straight sets in the opening round in 2022. And she missed last year’s event after wrist and ankle injuries.

Raducanu, who did not drop a set in 10 matches where she triumphed here as a qualifier, did win her first set since to draw the match level at one-set all on the Grandstand court. But 2020 Australian Open champion Kenin came back to win 6-1 3-6 6-4 in two hours, eleven minutes.

The decisive moment came in the fifth game of the final set when Raducanu fell 0-40 down – and gave away the second break point with a double fault. 

World No.26 Kenin took her first match point when the British No.2 fired a backhand long for only her second win since the French Open. The Moscow-born American also suffered an eight-match losing streak earlier in the season.

But the 25-year-old used slices, drop shots and lobs to break Raducanu’s rhythm and claim the win. 

Kenin said: “I am super happy. It was a rollercoaster match. Emma is a great player and I am happy to have won. It was super close – the third set could have gone either way.

“I feel it was a great blockbuster first-round match and now let’s see what happens.”

Raducanu, 21, had recorded her best Grand Slam result since 2021 by reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon last month but this was only her second tournament since. 

Kenin will face either world No.6 Jessica Pegula or fellow American Shelby Rogers in the second round on Thursday.