Emma Raducanu's US Open admission sums up her thoughts as WTA rankings updated – 'Really sad'
Emma Raducanu has maintained her rise back up the WTA rankings following her run to the third round at the US Open, where she was beaten by Elena Rybakina in just over an hour
Emma Raducanu's promising campaign at the US Open will have meant plenty to the British star following a "really sad" confession at her favourite Grand Slam. Raducanu progressed to the third round at Flushing Meadows, where she famously clinched the title as a teenage qualifier in 2021 before enduring a challenging period battling injuries and adjusting to sudden stardom.
This year, she overcame Ena Shibahara and Janice Tjen before world No. 10 Elena Rybakina thrashed her in just 62 minutes in round three. Nevertheless, Raducanu's showing in New York marked another step in her gradual climb back up the world rankings, which have been refreshed following the year's final major.
The Brit now sits 34th on the WTA Tour ladder, advancing two spots. It's a stark contrast to three years ago when her title defence was halted in the first round by a straight-sets loss to Alize Cornet.
Despite being the defending champion, the defeat hardly came as a surprise given her 2022 struggles. The loss also sent her tumbling down the rankings from a career-best 11th to 83rd.
Showing maturity beyond her years, Raducanu described it as a chance to rebuild her game after a turbulent 12 months. She said at the time: "Obviously, really disappointing, really sad to leave here.
"It's probably my favourite tournament. But also, in a way, happy because it's a clean slate.
"I'm going to drop down the rankings. [I need to] climb my way back up. In a way, the target will be off my back slightly. I just have another chance to claw my way back up there."
Despite not replicating her 2021 triumph, Raducanu's prospects are on an upward trajectory. Not advancing beyond the third round of a Grand Slam this season might be viewed as a disappointment, but losing to top players like Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka and Rybakina is no disgrace.
Speaking after her recent US Open exit, she said: "I think it's going to be important to just look at the last few months as a whole and the improvements that I'm making, because a match like that can easily get you down if you let it.
"So I'm going to try and not do that and regroup and just work hard and get ready for Asia. I've lost to Iga twice, Aryna, and Elena, so it's tough.
"But, at the same time, that's where I’m at with my ranking. I can play top opponents in the first, second, or third round. So I've just got to do my best in the next few months until Australia to just keep working to try and close the gap."
Raducanu will now aim to climb towards the top 20 before January's Australian Open, theoretically enhancing her chances of a deep tournament run.
Sabalenka, who clinched her second consecutive title in New York with a dominant win over Amanda Anisimova, continues to reign supreme in the rankings with a significant lead over second-placed Swiatek. Coco Gauff maintains her third position despite a quarter-final exit, while Anisimova has risen five spots to fourth.