US Open 2024: Emma Raducanu makes painful admission after opening round defeat to Sofia Kenin

Emma Raducanu tearfully admitted she will look to 'manage my schedule differently' after she was beaten in the first round of the 2024 US Open by Sofia Kenin.

The 21-year-old is still waiting for her first victory at the US Open since winning the title three years ago. Last night's defeat was her first competitive match since August 2, 2024.

She broke down in tears during her press conference in New York on Tuesday. The Brit was dumped out of the US Open in the first round, losing to American Sofia Kenin.

The 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 defeat brings into sharper focus Raducanu's decision not to play any tournaments since Washington at the start of the month. She was on court for two hours and 11 minutes but lost the three-set match.

'I would have preferred to probably play a little bit more before coming into the US Open,' admitted Raducanu after the defeat.

'I know when I have a lot of matches, just like every player, you feel really good, you feel like everything's automatic. So yeah, I think I can learn from it and manage my schedule slightly differently.'

Asked to clarify whether the decision to return home to London after Washington rather than play qualifying in Cincinnati was a personal or a team decision, Raducanu replied: 'I would say it wasn't me. It was more of like a collective call and, yeah, that's what happened. You can't really change it.'

Becoming tearful as she tried to explain her state of mind after this defeat, Raducanu said: 'I feel down... I feel, I feel sad. Obviously, this is a tournament I really want to do well in.'

Her opponent Kenin, 25, won the Australian Open in 2020 but a variety of issues have seen her ranking outside the top 50.

Despite this, she was able to cause Raducanu problems throughout the contest. 

Raducanu settled down in the second set and played with more patience. She carried on an almost constant dialogue with coach Nick Cavaday between points as they sought to find a way through the Kenin defences.

She had a break point to go 2-0 up in the third set but once Kenin got her nose in front she was comfortable. 

Raducanu, who missed last year's US Open, admitted she still hadn't 'come to terms' with her 2021 win when her title defence ended in the first round. 'I feel very proud when I come here,' she added.

'Walking past my photo every day, walking past my name on the trophy every day. I think that is such an epic achievement.'

The defeat comes days after Raducanu described Andy Murray's career as 'old news' and claimed the sport has already 'moved on' from his era of British tennis.

Raducanu controversially pulled out of the mixed doubles with Murray at Wimbledon, a decision that ended the Scot's career at SW19 before his final bow at the Paris Olympics. 

But, before the first major since 2005 without Murray at the helm of British tennis, Raducanu said: 'It doesn't feel different at all. Tennis is unforgiving in that sense. No matter who you are, it just moves on. There is always another match, there is always another tournament.

'Of course Andy has achieved amazing things and I watched him win this tournament (in 2012) but it is a fast pace, just like life is. It's old news the next day kind of thing.'

Not for the first time in her nascent career, Emma Raducanu's scheduling has been unorthodox to say the least. 

The 21-year-old skipped the Olympics and instead played the Citi Open in Washington, where she narrowly lost to eventual champion Paula Badosa in the quarter-finals on August 2.

Since then… nothing. The British No2 withdrew from qualifying events in both Toronto and Cincinnati and decided against playing a lower-level tournament this week in Monterrey or Cleveland.

Instead she returned to the UK and was training at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton. Last Tuesday, she arrived in New York and began practising at Flushing Meadows. 

When the US Open began on Monday, Raducanu started having not played a competitive match for 24 days.

It is an extraordinary approach given that there is no suggestion she is carrying an injury. 

For comparison, the five players ranked above and below her spot of 71 have played an average of two events and five matches since Raducanu's last appearance.