US Open 2022 LIVE: Defending champion Emma Raducanu enters the US Open this year amidst huge expectations. After her breakthrough tournament last year, where she entered the tournament as a qualifier and went all the way to win the title, which was her maiden Grand Slam title, the teenager enters Flushy Meadows this year as the 11th seed. She however faces a big challenge to her title defence as she is placed in a tough quarter. Follow US Open LIVE updates on InsideSport.IN
US Open 2022 LIVE: Defending champion Emma Raducanu has tough road ahead in title defence at US Open 2022, Check OUT
Find a better pair of Grand Slam R1 matches than these.
We’ll wait. pic.twitter.com/9VkhSn9ZTi
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 25, 2022
Emma Raducanu will begin her campaign by facing Alize Cornet in the first round. Cornet is ranked 37th in the world and has had a good season so far. She started the year by reaching the quarterfinal at Australian Open which was her maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance in her career. She also reached the third round at French Open. At the Wimbledon, she clinched one of the biggest upset victories as she ended World No.1 Iga Swiatek’s 37-match win streak by winning the contest in straight sets. Ahead of the US Open she has reached the semifinals at WTA 250 event in Cleveland and is expected to give a tough fight to Raducanu in the first round.
If Raducanu surpasses the first round, she will be facing either Katerina Siniakova or Taylor Townsend in the second round of the tournament. Siniakova leads the head-to-head record against Raducanu 1-0. They met earlier this year at Miami with Siniakova winning the contest in three sets.
In the third round she is likely to face either 19th seed Danielle Collins or former US Open champion Naomi Osaka. Osaka has not been in great touch this year and is seeking a redemption. meanwhile Collins was the finalist at the Australian Open earlier this year. She enters US Open as the 19th seed. Raducanu has not yet faced both the players in her career and it would be another challenge that the defending champion has to surpass.
If she advances to the fourth round she is likely to set up clash with the reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina. Rybakina and Raducanu met earlier this year at the Sydney International with Rybakina winning the match 6-0, 6-1. If not Rybakina, Raducanu will be up against sixth seed Aryna Sabalenka in the fourth round. Once Raducanu surpasses all the challenge she is likely to meet fourth seed Paula Badosa in the quarterfinal. The other top seeds in the quarter also includes Belinda Bencic, Karolina Pliskova and Victoria Azarenka.
With such a tough draw, it remains to be seen how the teenager copes up with the pressure of expectations and face the challenge that would be posed by her opponents. Raducanu’s form and fitness too is a big concern. Raducanu’s maiden full season on the WTA tour so far has not gone as expected and as per how things stand now, it would be a surprise if the teenager makes a deep run in the tournament.
US Open 2022 LIVE: Defending champion Emma Raducanu has tough road ahead in title defence at US Open 2022, Check OUT
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