Laura Robson admits that Sofia Kenin did something completely unexpected in her US Open win over Emma Raducanu

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Emma Raducanu is out of the US Open again, and has still yet to win a match at this competition since she won the title in 2021.

The youngster was always going to face a tough task, coming into the event as a wildcard entry, but there was hope that she might be able to bypass Sofia Kenin to enjoy a deep run.

After all, 2024 has seen her slowly building momentum, regaining her form and fitness at last.

However, it was not to be, and Laura Robson was left particularly stunned by what the American did to overthrow Emma Raducanu.

Laura Robson left stunned as Emma Raducanu knocked out of US Open

Speaking on Sky Sports after Raducanu’s first-round exit at the US Open, her compatriot was left stunned by the manner of the result.

A tough one to call pre-match, given it saw two Grand Slam winners clash early on in New York, many did lean towards the Briton despite Kenin boasting the home support.

However, the American was inspired, winning the first and third sets to dump the 2021 champion out.

Speaking after, Robson noted: ‘Not a performance that any of us expected from Sofia Kenin… she was clutch when it mattered most.

‘We saw a really solid second set [from Raducanu] where she just found some rhythm finally but Sofia Kenin just didn’t allow her much rhythm.’

Emma Raducanu’s lack of practice comes back to bite her

Having opted to snub the qualifying of both the Canadian and Cincinnati Open, the 21-year-old went into this year’s US Open having played just one hard-court tournament in Washington.

Andy Roddick was left baffled by Raducanu’s decision on this matter.

Admittedly, she impressed, battling well with the eventual champion Paula Badosa before exiting at the quarter-final stage.

Having chosen against participating for Great Britain at the Olympics, and then omitted two Masters 1000 events from her schedule, travelling to New York it was widely reported that her workload had looked a little light.

And now, that lack of practice has clearly come back to bite her.

A slow start, which she even admitted to enduring, in the end she struggled to find any kind of rhythm. Had she built up momentum over two or three tournaments, this might not have been an issue.