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Emma Raducanu wants to 'close gap' on top seeds with 'point to prove' after humbling US Open exit to Elena Rybakina

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British No.1 Emma Raducanu has been eliminated from the US Open by 2022 Wimbledon champion and ninth seed Elena Rybakina in the third round at Flushing Meadows. Raducanu memorably burst onto the scene in 2021 by winning the US Open as a teenage qualifier. But this was a chastening day for the 22-year-old Briton, as she fell to a 6-1 6-2 defeat in New York.

Raducanu says top players 'really lock in' against her after Rybakina loss

Video credit: SNTV

Emma Raducanu said she needs to "close the gap" between her and the world's best, after the British No. 1 was dispatched in straight sets by Elena Rybakina in the US Open third round.

Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, took firm charge of the first set, taking it in just 27 minutes.

While Raducanu dug in to claim a pair of much-needed holds to love in the second set, Rybakina continued to dominate and she claimed a 6-1 6-2 victory.

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Raducanu said in her subsequent press conference that while she had recently seen an improvement in her game, she needed to "close the gap" on the world's best players ahead of January's Australian Open.

"I've lost to Iga [Swiatek] twice, Aryna [Sabalenka], and Elena, so it's tough," Raducanu said. "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."

The 2021 US Open winner added: "I think when the very top play against me, they have a point to prove that they're at the top, and they're there for a reason. I think every time I've played one, they've kind of shown that.

"So I think at the same time while I'm improving, doing better, gaining some more respect around, I think the top have definitely raised their game.

"I'll take that as a compliment that they've decided to really lock in against me, but at the same time it does show I have a lot more work to do."

Raducanu leaves the US Open having made at least the third round of three different Grand Slams for the first time in her career.

Rybakina: 'It’s never easy to play against Emma'

Rybakina entered the US Open as one of the tournament's form players, having made semi-finals in her last three events - a run of form that included a win over world No. 1, Sabalenka.

"I’m really happy with the performance," Rybakina said in her on-court interview.

"It’s never easy to play against Emma. Sometimes the scoreline doesn’t show that but she’s such a competitor and I’m really happy with the way I played today. I’m looking forward to the next match."

Rybakina, through to the US fourth round for the first time in her career, added: "Throughout the years for some reason, the US Open has not been a success for me.

"But I’m hoping this year it will change. I’m really happy that I’m going through and hopefully, I can go as far as possible."

The 26-year-old flew into an early lead, breaking Raducanu's first service game and registering an impressive forehand winner to then take a second break point, and ultimately, the first set.

The world No. 10 proved to be equally dominant in the second. Indeed, it opened with Raducanu squandering a 40-0 lead to lose her first service game.

At this point, the writing was very much on the wall, and, staying with the script, Rybakina went on to register a fourth break before easing to victory.

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