Emma Raducanu was knocked out in opening round of the US Open by Sofia Kenin in a battle of former Grand Slam champions on Tuesday night in New York.
Raducanu has struggled to recapture the magic of her fairy-tale run at Flushing Meadows three years ago when she became the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam.
And American Kenin sent Raducanu packing with a 6-1 3-6 6-4 victory in front of a sparse crowd on Grandstand.
Kenin ripped through the opening set by winning six straight games before Raducanu, who reached the fourth round at Wimbledon this year, upped her level in the second set.
The Briton had missed three break points of her own in the first set, but made a move at the start of the second by taking Kenin’s serve.
Kenin recovered the break straight back but a crucial point at 2-2 and 15-15, where Raducanu hit a backhand winner down the line, changed the momentum of the second set.
It helped her break, with 2020 Australian Open champion Kenin losing her cool by hitting the ball into the backboard. Two brilliant winners saw Raducanu take a second break and the second set in style.
However, Raducanu ran out of steam, dropping serve with a double fault in the fifth game of the decider as she was broken and there was no way back from there as Kenin clinically saw it out.
Having played just one tournament since Wimbledon and skipping the Olympics to focus on her preparation for the US Open, Raducanu will be desperately disappointed to fall at the first hurdle and questions remain over the direction of her career.
In her defence, it was a tough draw for Raducanu against the former world No 4, who showed some of her best form.
Carlos Alcaraz was given a scare by Australian qualifier Li Tu before going on to seal a 6-2 4-6 6-3 6-1 victory.
The 21-year-old, who won the US Open in 2022, showed no signs that his movement was limited by a right ankle injury he suffered during a practice session on Saturday.
He extended his Grand Slam match-winning streak to 15 against the world No 186 qualifier.
“Obviously, it surprised me a little bit. The first set, it was obvious that he started the match nervous. But after the first set, I think he started to enjoy it and play great tennis,” Alcaraz told on-court interviewer Nick Kyrgios.
“I was playing great, probably a few mistakes that I had. He is a great player. I’m going to follow him – his results – from now because I’m pretty sure if he is playing at this level, I’m going to see him around very, very soon.”
Up next for Alcaraz is 2021 quarter-finalist Botic van de Zandschulp, who beat Denis Shapovalov 6-4 7-5 6-4.
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