Emma Raducanu sad about US Open exit but ‘happy’ as ‘target will fall away from her’

Emma Raducanu has admitted she doesn’t mind losing the world tennis rankings after her exit from the US Open.

The Brit, who defended her title from the previous year, had to admit defeat in two sets, as in the first round of 32-year-old Alize Cornet.

The result is expected to see Raducanu drop to around 80th place in the world tennis rankings.

Emma Raducanu will drop to around 80th place in the world tennis rankings after her loss

Raducanu admitted that if the target is taken off her back, she won’t fall in the middle of the rankings

Although the 19-year-old is disappointed with his exit, Raducanu doesn’t mind stepping out of the firing line to climb back up the rankings.

She said: “Obviously it’s really disappointing, I’m really sad to be leaving. It’s probably my favorite tournament.

“But in a way I’m also happy because it’s a clean slate. I will drop the leaderboard. Climb my way back up. The target will be slightly off my back.

“I’ve done a really good job, especially in the last six weeks.

Raducanu (pictured) failed to defend her US Open title when she was KO’d by Alize Cornet

“I’m just looking forward to consistently getting more of these weeks together then we’ll see what happens.

“From a perspective perspective, I didn’t have a bad year as a 19-year-old. Being in the top 100 if you had told me that a year ago I would take it.”

Raducanu received a warm welcome from the fans as she was welcomed back to Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Alize Cornet (pictured) handled the windy conditions better than Emma Raducanu

The 32-year-old Frenchwoman is taking part in her 32nd consecutive Grand Slam

However, windy conditions affected the match as there were nine double faults, but France’s Cornet managed better to take the win.

Competing in her 32nd consecutive Grand Slam, her longest run at the moment, Cornet was one of the toughest first-round opponents Raducanu could have faced.

She announced in January that she was considering retirement, but has since decided to postpone it to next year’s French Open.

Admitting that she found the conditions difficult, Raducanu said: “It was quite windy. It was quite difficult for me to find my ball shot in particular.

Raducanu suffered from blisters and had to have one taped at the end of the opening set

“I think I hit quite a few serves long. I just had trouble really getting used to it.

“Both players have to deal with that. She just handled it better today than I did.’

The 19-year-old once again struggled with finger blisters after having to take a medical time-out at the end of the opening set to stick one.

“I’ve gotten some blisters over the weeks in the States,” she said. “But I think it’s just the humidity and stuff. I got a new one. But you tape it shut and keep moving it. It’s a bubble.. Not much you can do about it.’