"I feel down; I feel sad...I was outplayed completely" - Tearful Emma Raducanu makes heartbreaking statement after abject US Open 1R exit
Emma Raducanu's emotions got the better of her after her disappointing first-round exit from the 2024 US Open. The former champion at Flushing Meadows turned teary-eyed and sobbed in front of reporters during her post-match press conference, before assessing her disappointing defeat.
Raducanu's preparations heading into the prestigious hardcourt Major were less than ideal. While she had reached the quarterfinals of the Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington, the first big event of the US Open Series, she did not feature at either the National Bank Open in Toronto or the Cincinnati Open.
The former World No. 10 was drawn against former World No. 4 and 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin. The Brit's abject display in the first set saw Kenin win it 6-1. However, Emma Raducanu squared things up by recovering admirably in the second set, clinching it 6-3 to force a decisive third set.
Ultimately though, Kenin's pace and explosive shot-making proved key, as the American won the third set 6-4 to bring an early end to the 2021 champion's campaign at Flushing Meadows.
After the match, Emma Raducanu attended a press conference. At one point during the presser, the Brit started sobbing, ruing her off-color performance against the American. After she managed to contain her emotions, she admitted that Kenin had "outplayed" her.
"I feel down, I feel sad. 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," Raducanu said.
The World No. 72 proceeded to reflect on the decisive third set. According to the Brit, she couldn't live with Kenin's pacy shots and overall movement.
"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 added.
The former World No. 10's latest loss marks the end of her Grand Slam outings this year. Raducanu's best finish at a Major this season came on home soil at the Wimbledon Championships.
Emma Raducanu's fourth-round finish at Wimbledon 2024 marked her finest Major outing following her return to action
Emma Raducanu was forced to miss the majority of the 2023 season with wrist and ankle issues, which required her to undergo multiple surgeries. The Brit returned to Grand Slam action at this year's Australian Open, where she reached the second round before losing to Wang Yafan
The 2021 US Open champion then decided to skip the French Open. Emma Raducanu was denied a wildcard entry into the claycourt Major's women's singles main draw, and would have had to earn her place there by playing in the qualifying rounds. Instead, the Brit focused on preparing for the Wimbledon Championships.
At the prestigious grasscourt Grand Slam, she looked impressive up until her fourth-round clash against qualifier Lulu Sun. The New Zealander emerged triumphant, condemning Raducanu to a disappointing loss after she had controversially pulled out of the mixed doubles event and brought an anti-climactic end to the legendary Andy Murray's final SW19 outing.