- Defending champion loses to world No 40 6-3, 6-3
- As it happened: Tom Lutz’s game-by-game report
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.
