Raducanu’s US Open title defense ends with loss to Cornet

NEW YORK (AP) — Emma Raducanu’s defense of her surprising 2021 U.S. Open championship ended with 6-3, 6-3 loss to Alizé Cornet in the first round on Tuesday night.

Raducanu is only the third woman to lose her opening match in New York a year after winning the title. The others were 2004 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova and 2016 champion Angelique Kerber.

Raducanu dealt with blisters on her racket-holding right hand and took a medical timeout after the first set for treatment from a trainer.

She also was simply outplayed by Cornet, a 32-year-old from France who ended Iga Swiatek’s 37-match winning streak at Wimbledon.