Emma Raducanu’s quest for a second US Open second week appearance was cut short.
Britain’s Emma Raducanu has been eliminated from the US Open after a decisive defeat at the hands of fellow Grand Slam champion Elena Rybakina in the third round.
Raducanu, 22, aimed for a significant victory against an elite player to highlight her recent progress, but was outplayed in a 6-1, 6-2 loss.
Ninth seed Rybakina dominated Raducanu’s serve, returning with devastating precision to secure four breaks.
“It was a difficult experience facing her when she playing so well. I just feel that in every department she was better,” Raducanu told BBC Sport.
Raducanu’s slow start on her serve – broken in the match’s opening game after falling 0-40 down – set a negative tone for the match.
Quickly falling behind, the world number 36 appeared to lack confidence and struggled to find her rhythm before succumbing in just 62 minutes.
Raducanu has secured only three victories in 18 career matches against top-10 opponents.
The 2021 US Open champion was the last British woman remaining in the singles draw, with Cameron Norrie still competing in the men’s event.
Norrie, 29, is scheduled to face 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in the third round later on Friday.
Can Norrie test Djokovic’s ‘vulnerability’?
Raducanu entered this year’s New York tournament – the site of her remarkable 2021 title win as a qualifier – amid a resurgence of optimism.
Appearing more relaxed and confident, she has displayed some of her strongest tennis since that improbable triumph and is nearing a return to the world’s top 30.
However, this defeat serves as a sobering reminder.
Prior to the match, Raducanu acknowledged Rybakina’s, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, ability to dictate play with her powerful serve and incisive returns.
“Today I felt I was on the receiving end of that – which was hard to take, of course,” said Raducanu, who conceded the first set in 27 minutes.
“I need to try my best to not let this match overshadow all the good work I’ve been doing.”
Rybakina’s groundstrokes were precise and powerful on both sides, with a series of winners hitting the baseline and leaving Raducanu struggling.
A total of 23 winners from the 26-year-old Rybakina underscored her dominance from the back of the court.
Raducanu’s serve had been a key asset in her two opening victories against lower-ranked qualifiers Ena Shibahara of Japan and Janice Tjen of Indonesia.
However, she struggled to land as many first serves against Rybakina, immediately placing herself under pressure against a significantly tougher opponent.
Having her serve broken from 40-0 in the first game of the second set was another demoralizing setback.
Rybakina of Kazakhstan, known for her powerful baseline game, maintained her aggressive play as she cruised to victory.
It was believed that Raducanu’s chances hinged on her ability to move Rybakina around the court, but the pace of her opponent’s shots limited her opportunities to do so.
Despite securing multiple WTA titles on hard courts, Rybakina had not previously advanced beyond the third round at Flushing Meadows.
She will next face either Italian seventh seed Jasmine Paolini or 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova for a quarter-final spot.
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