With her grand slam defence over the Briton has the chance to embrace a fresh start and build her world ranking back up
“I want to go to bed,” said Emma Raducanu, smiling, as the subject of her press conference shifted to her next plans and goals after she had been usurped in the very first round at the US Open as the defending champion. Just over an hour after her defeat by Alizé Cornet, Raducanu had arrived wearing a cap angled low, covering her face, still processing all that had unfolded that evening.
Losing in the first round of a grand slam tournament as the defending champion is a harsh, torrid experience but she leaves New York with no shame. Raducanu played an OK match but Cornet, a 32-year-old former No 11 who has battled numerous more accomplished at grand slam tournaments this year, rising to defeat them each time, was spectacular. She drew on all her nous, improvisational skills and experience to neutralise Raducanu in extremely windy conditions.