Emma Raducanu suffers fresh blow after devastating US Open exit
The tennis star was beaten by Sofia Kenin in the first round of the competition in New York
Emma Raducanu has now suffered another blow in the wake of her recent US Open exit, with the 21-year-old now the No 3 British women’s player. The 21-year-old had gone into the final Grand Slam of the year hoping to summon the magic of three years ago, when she upset the odds to reign supreme. But Raducanu was beaten in three sets by Sofia Kenin in the first round of the competition.
It was a huge setback for the Briton, who cut an emotional figure as she addressed the media in the aftermath of her defeat. And with the world rankings now updated, Raducanu has suffered yet another blow. With Harriet Dart managing to reach the second round of the competition, the 28-year-old has risen eight places to be ranked 70th in the world.
Katie Boulter remains the British No 1, despite the tennis star slipping down two places to 35th in the world. But Raducanu is now behind both women, with the 21-year-old remaining in 72nd after her exit from the competition. It’ll now be interesting to see whether the 2021 US Open champion is able to bounce back from her latest setback.
Injuries have played a big role in her decline over the past three years. However, her schedule has also been scrutinised as well. Raducanu opted to skip the Paris Olympics this summer, a decision that raised eyebrows given the prestige of the tournament. She then played just one hard-court tournament prior to the US Open.
And there’s a sense that Raducanu must play more matches to rise up the rankings, rather than prioritising certain events. Tim Henman previously backed Raducanu’s decision to play just one hard-court competition. Yet the former British No 1 recently changed his tune and admitted, with hindsight, that she got it wrong.
“This has all been a rebuilding process when she’s coming back from the surgeries,” he told Sky Sports. “When she has played she has played very well.
“That was a big chunk of the summer to miss. “Obviously they were big tournaments and she wasn’t a direct acceptance [into the main draw] but in hindsight she probably should have been in qualifying to get those match reps under her belt.
“She’s learning all the time and fingers crossed she’s going to have many more opportunities here at the US Open in the future.” Henman also expressed a belief that Raducanu will come good sooner rather than later. “I still think her game is moving in the right direction and there are still elements that she can do better,” he added.
