Emma Raducanu: Brit beaten by Sofia Kenin in a battle of former Grand Slam champions

Emma Raducanu lost in the first round of the US Open to Sofia Kenin, who is also a former Grand Slam champion. The match took place on Tuesday evening in New York.

Raducanu has found it difficult to replicate the success of her unforgettable journey at Flushing Meadows three years ago, when she made history as the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam.

American Kenin knocked Raducanu out of the tournament with a 6-1 3-6 6-4 win in front of a small crowd on the Grandstand.

Raducanu was emotional and teary-eyed when asked about her feelings during the press conference.

"I'm feeling disappointed, I'm feeling upset. This tournament means a lot to me, so... after losing the first set, I was clearly outperformed and I believe I did a good job to tie it up," she expressed.

The third set showcased some top-notch tennis skills, and I believe I was able to handle my opponent's fast shots and pace better than in my past matches.

"I faced a tough competitor who was in great form, and she performed exceptionally well."

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Kenin dominated the first set by winning six games in a row before Raducanu, who made it to the fourth round at Wimbledon this year, raised her game in the second set.

The British player failed to convert three opportunities to break her opponent's serve in the first set, but she turned things around at the beginning of the second set by successfully breaking Kenin's serve.

Kenin managed to break back right away, but the turning point came at a crucial moment in the match when Raducanu hit a backhand winner down the line at 2-2 and 15-15. This shift in momentum had a significant impact on the outcome of the second set.

It was a turning point for her, as 2020 Australian Open champion Kenin lost her composure and angrily hit the ball into the backboard. Raducanu then made two impressive shots to secure another break and win the second set in a stylish manner.

However, Raducanu became tired and lost her momentum, giving up a point with a mistake in the fifth game of the final set. She was unable to recover from being broken, and Kenin finished the match with precision.

After only participating in one tournament following Wimbledon and choosing not to compete in the Olympics in order to concentrate on getting ready for the US Open, Raducanu must be feeling really upset about being eliminated so early. There are still uncertainties about where her career is headed.

In her favor, Raducanu faced a challenging opponent in the former fourth-ranked player in the world, who displayed some impressive skills.

Raducanu intends to regroup and strategize before competing at the Korea Open in Seoul on September 16, which will be televised on Sky Sports Tennis.

"For now, I will go back to square one and work on my training and analysis to figure out my mistakes and improve for the upcoming season," Raducanu explained. "Although the Grand Slam tournaments are finished for this year, Australia is just around the corner in January."

Raducanu Vs Kenin: A Comparison

Carlos Alcaraz had a tough match against Australian qualifier Li Tu, but he managed to win 6-2 4-6 6-3 6-1.

The 21-year-old, who became the champion of the US Open in 2022, demonstrated that his ability to move freely was not affected by a right ankle injury he encountered during a training session on Saturday.

He increased his winning streak in Grand Slam matches to 15 against the qualifier ranked 186th in the world.

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"Of course, it caught me off guard. In the beginning, it was clear that he was feeling nervous. But after the initial set, I believe he started to have fun and showcased some impressive tennis skills," Alcaraz shared with on-court interviewer Nick Kyrgios.

I was performing well, despite a few errors here and there. He is a talented player. I plan on keeping an eye on him and his performance going forward because if he continues to play at this high level, I believe he will be making a name for himself very soon.

Next up for Alcaraz is Botic van de Zandschulp, who reached the quarter-finals in 2021. Van de Zandschulp defeated Denis Shapovalov 6-4 7-5 6-4 to advance.

Kyrgios: "I really like it when you wear sleeveless shirts on the court. Did you create that outfit yourself? Your arms look amazing in that clothing."

Alcaraz: "I enjoy wearing tank tops while playing."

Kyrgios: "I am aware that you do."

Alcaraz: "Sometimes I consider wearing singlets in tournaments to intimidate my opponents or just to see how it goes."

Cold Welcome For Sinner

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Top-ranked player Jannik Sinner reveals that he has not been warmly welcomed by other players at the US Open after his controversial failed drug tests.

The Italian player was competing in his first game since avoiding a suspension, even though he had two unsuccessful drug tests earlier in the year.

The person accused of wrongdoing, who was found not guilty by a separate panel, has strongly defended himself against accusations that he received special treatment in the quick handling of his case.

At first, it seemed like the tension had affected him, but American player Mackenzie McDonald won the first set and even broke his opponent's serve in the second. However, Sinner eventually took charge and secured a 2-6 6-2 6-1 6-2 win in the first round.

The person said that they were happy about how the crowd had reacted, but the response in the locker room was not as warm.

"I'm interested in seeing how fans have responded, but so far the feedback has been really good," he mentioned.

I was really happy with the support I received, and playing against an American added a unique twist to the game.

I feel proud of how I dealt with those challenges, even though it was tough. I am focusing on the good things that came out of today and I am excited to see what happens next. Let's stay optimistic and see what the next round brings.

There have been some reactions from other players. I cannot fully dictate their thoughts.

You see, that's just how things unfolded and that's how it is. I can't dictate how the players will react, and if I need to address something with someone, I prefer to do it in private because that's the kind of person I am.

In general, things have been okay. So I'm pleased with that.

Ex-champion Daniil Medvedev secured his spot in the next round by defeating Serbian player Dusan Lajovic with a score of 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Stefanos Tsitsipas was eliminated from the tournament as the top seed after a defeat by Australian player Thanasi Kokkinakis in four sets.

Felix Auger-Aliassiame, ranked at 19, was also defeated.

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