Emma Raducanu and Naomi Osaka crash out in first round at US Open

Emma Raducanu's US Open title defence ended in the first round on Tuesday after losing 6-3, 6-3 to Frenchwoman Alize Cornet.

Raducanu delivered one of the most remarkable triumphs in tennis history last year when she became the first qualifier to claim a Grand Slam title, winning 10 matches in New York without dropping a set to catapulting her career into the stratosphere and making her one of the most marketable athletes on the planet.

Twelve months ago, the British player arrived at her opening match a relative unknown with few expectations but on Tuesday the 19-year-old sometimes appeared to be carrying the weight of world on her shoulders.

Not only was Raducanu defending her one and only title but a massive 2,040 of her 2,756 ranking points. With those gone, the world No 11 will drop out of the top 70 and back having to qualify for some events or depend on wildcards.

But the loss, Raducanu said, has also brought aa level of freedom that will allow her to focus on her game and career without unrealistic expectations.

"Obviously really disappointing, really sad to leave here," Raducanu told a post-match press conference, her face partially hidden by a baseball cap pulled tight to her eyes. "But also, in a way happy because it's a clean slate.

"I'm going to drop down the rankings. Climb my way back up. In a way the target will be off my back slightly."

Raducanu endured a difficult first full year on Tour with injuries and poor form limiting her match wins, with each early exit bringing increased scrutiny.

Still just 19, Raducanu will now be able to grow into her career and if that means playing lower level events then that is what she will do.

"I can just start again," said Raducanu. "I don't know what my ranking will