NEW YORK: Emma Raducanu faded into the New York night late on Tuesday in the first-round of the US Open.
The 20-year-old's play stuttered against a melange of whispering drop shots crafted by the feisty Alize Cornet, who was making a record-breaking 63rd consecutive Grand Slam appearance. The Briton fell 3-6, 3-6 in her much-anticipated title defence.
Raducanu, who last year became the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam in the Open Era, looked at odds on the Louis Armstrong Stadium as Cornet mixed it up as if she was buttering her popcorn. With this loss Raducanu's ranking - which soared into the top 10 back in July - will drop to outside the top 75. She was defending 2040 points from 12 months ago.
Raducanu, who arrived for her post-match conference wearing a baseball cap which covered much of her face, let her feelings show. "This is probably my favourite tournament," she said. "In a way I'm also happy because it's a clean slate. I'm going to drop down the rankings. I have another chance to claw my way back up. In a way the target will be off my back."
Raducanu's fairytale run, which became the toast of the Big Apple last year, made her an endorsement magnet with brands queuing for the striking Londoner all the way into the country. With the attention came the intense scrutiny which her game wasn't adequately beefed for. She only played her first WTA main draw match some 15 months ago -as a wild card on the grass in Nottingham. She was ranked No. 366 then.
Raducanu, though hugely frustrated by the loss in the opening round, left Flushing Meadows with a clear sense of direction. That, however, wasn't the case for the two-time US Open champion Naomi Osaka who went down to American 19th seed Danielle Collins 6-7 (5), 3-6 on a rain-hit night. Collins, who has struggled with injury, snapped her three-match losing streak against the powerful Japanese pro, who has been dealing with her own share of setbacks.
Osaka, 24, had initially wanted to play a full hardcourt season in a bid to get her game back on track. "I'm not really sure," she said of her schedule, following her loss. "I'm more of like a winging-it type of person. I'm not really a person that has a full set plan. I think I'll just take it day by day." Osaka, a former No. 1, who is now ranked 44, has one win from her four hardcourt outings in the American swing.
Wimbledon champion Elena also Rybakina suffered a shock defeat (6-4, 6-4) to qualifier Clara Burel.
On an evening of heavy hits, second-seeded Rafael Nadal discovered his rhythm after a sluggish start to put out young Aussie Rinky Hijikata 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 and restore order at Flushing Meadows.
