US Open: Emma Raducanu's 72-place ranking drop explained

Emma Raducanu has taken a hefty fall in the tennis world rankings after she was unable to defend her US Open title.

The former world number 10 has plummeted a total of 72 places following her early exit from Flushing Meadows.

Raducanu suffered a shock first round defeat at the hands of Alizé Cornet, which ended her reign as US Open champion.

The 19-year-old is now ranked 83rd in the world but still holds the British number one status. However, she is just two places above Harriet Dart, meaning she could well be usurped by her compatriot in the coming months if she continues to struggle with her form.

Raducanu was always going to lose ranking points, even if she had retained her title in New York.

At a Grand Slam, players will earn a certain amount of points depending on how far they make it through the competition, with 2,000 being awarded to the champion.

In 2021, Raducanu scooped 2,040 points following her fairytale US Open triumph, which made her the first qualifier in history to win a Grand Slam title.

Because she played through three qualifying matches before entering the main draw, she earned an additional 40 points on top of the 2,000 for winning.

As reigning champion, the Brit did not have to enter the qualifying rounds this year, meaning the extra 40 points earned in 2021 would still have been deducted regardless of whether she won the tournament or not.

The magnitude of Raducanu’s descent through the world rankings all depended on how well she performed at the 2022 US Open.

Because she did not win a match during the competition, she earned just 10 points and lost the 2,040 she accumulated last year.

While it is certainly a hefty drop to face, Raducanu seems unfazed by the circumstances.

Her historic victory