Reigning US Open champion Emma Raducanu stutters in preparation for title defense with straight-sets loss to world No. 8 Jessica Pegula at the Cincinnati Masters
Emma Raducanu’s preparation for her US Open title defense has stuttered after a 7-5, 6-4 third round loss to Jessica Pegula at the Cincinnati Masters.
Pegula was far too strong for the reigning Flushing Meadows champ and proceeds to the quarter finals where she will face France’s Caroline Garcia.
Raducanu came into Thursday night with momentum after already accounting for 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams and former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka.
The 19-year-old defeated Williams 6-4, 6-0 in the round of 64 before disposing of Azarenka 6-0, 6-2 in the following round.
Pegula, who rose to her highest-ever ranking of world No. 8 in July, was dominant throughout, convincingly dispatching of Raducanu.
Notwithstanding the result, Raducanu will arrive at Flushing Meadows as one of the contenders.
Undoubtedly, the Brit will look to draw upon her last visit to the US Open as inspiration.
Raducanu entered the 2021 US Open draw as a qualifier before sensationally failing to drop a set until the semi-finals.
The Canadian-born teenager went on to advance to the final, before defeating Leyleh Fernandez 6-4, 6-3.
In doing so, she became the first-ever qualifier to win a Grand Slam in the Open era.
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