Cornet ends Raducanu's US Open title defense at the first hurdle: “I guess I’m getting old more mature”

Alizé Cornet defeated the current US Open title holder Emma Raducanu in the first round of the Grand Slam on Tuesday night.

It was much easier for the English international in 2021 as she won all of her 10 games including qualifying which enabled her to get her hands on the Grand Slam.

Before the start of the tournament Emma Raducanu was asked if she felt any pressure on retaining the title this is what she had to say.

“I think you guys are thinking probably more about pressure and ranking than me,” the 19-year-old from Great Britain answered crisply. “I think defending a title is just something that the press makes up. I’m just taking it one match at a time.

“Every single player is very capable in this draw. I just focus on what I’m doing, my own trajectory. As I said last year, I’m just going to do things my way.”

After her 6-3 6-3 loss Raducanu's ranking will be expected to drop her Top 10 spot in July to the outside of the Top 75.

Cornet broke Raducanu's serve three times in the first set.

The French international was tied three all in the second set but a seventh break was enough for her to get over the line.

When Cornet was interviewed on court she said "My game at the net was pretty good, I did a lot of variation -- I think that’s what worked tonight."

"I think I’m handling my emotions better," Cornet said. "I guess I’m getting old -- more mature. It shows in my results. I’m 32 -- better late than never."

"I saw that I've beaten a Grand Slam champion on every Slam this year," Cornet said. "I think it's crazy. It's kind of cool. These players that I'm admiring, that I have been following for a long time, knowing I'm part of this world, that I can beat them on a Slam, I don't know, I still feel like a kid sometimes." 

Cornet will be facing Katerina Siniakova on Thursday in her 63rd consecutive Grand Slam main draw.