Kent teenager Emma Raducanu hopes the target will be off her back after her US Open defence ended in the first round.

The 19-year-old, from Orpington, stunned the world last year by winning the major as a teenage qualifier, but her return to Flushing Meadows was less memorable.

She was out-hustled and out-scrapped by France's Alize Cornet, who won 6-3, 6-3.

“It's disappointing, I'm really sad to leave here as it's probably my favourite tournament,” she said.

“I'm going to drop down the rankings and can now [look to] move back up, the target is going to be off my back slightly.

“I've been doing some good work in the last six weeks especially and I'm looking forward to putting more of those weeks together consistently.”

Raducanu, seeded 11th, will tumble down the rankings after losing the points she earned with the title in 2021.