Emma Raducanu’s US Open defence ends early with defeat to Alizé Cornet

As the tough, intense first set between Alizé Cornet and Emma Raducanu arrived at its decisive moment, with Cornet serving at 5-3, the Briton did everything in her power to hold off the inevitable. She stepped inside the baseline, attacking hard and early off both wings. But, like so many times on Tuesday night, Cornet simply refused to give in. She absorbed countless blows, flitting from sideline to sideline and, as Raducanu came steaming into the net, the Frenchwoman threaded a forehand winner down the line.

A year ago, Raducanu somehow pulled off one of the most surprising runs in tennis history, but 2022 has seen constant reminders of the trials and difficulties of this sport. In challenging, windy conditions, Raducanu received her most brutal reality check yet as her US Open title defence ended at the first hurdle in a 6-3, 6-3 loss.

From the moment the draw was announced, it was clear that Raducanu had been handed one of the toughest opponents possible. Cornet, the world No 40, is not only one of the highest ranked players to miss out on a top 32 seeding, she is also enjoying the best grand slam year of her career.

She finally reached her first grand slam quarter-final in emotional scenes at the Australian Open and she has beaten Iga Swiatek, Simona Halep, Garbiñe Muguruza and Jelena Ostapenko in majors this year. The news of her first-round opponent immediately led her to Twitter: “I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” she wrote. She was ready.

Raducanu emerged on Louis Armstrong Stadium to an intense ovation worthy of her status as defending champion, and throughout the match the crowd tried hard to animate her. Sitting in the front rows once again was Virginia Wade, the winner in 1968.

After a difficult year, as