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Tennis world erupts over Emma Raducanu setback before US Open defence

Emma Raducanu's US Open preparations took a big hit after she was knocked out of the first round in Toronto. Pic: Getty
Emma Raducanu's US Open preparations took a big hit after she was knocked out of the first round in Toronto. Pic: Getty

Emma Raducanu's preparations for her US Open title defence have taken a massive hit after the British teen was dumped out in the first round of the Canadian Open in Toronto.

Raducanu went down in straight sets to defending champion Camila Giorgi, with the Italian prevailing 7-6 (0) 6-2.

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The 19-year-old Brit last week showed guts and determination to come through the longest straight sets win on the WTA Tour this year, when she beat Camila Osorio at the Citi Open.

Raducanu battled through the pain of hand blisters in that match before seeing her run in Washington ended in the next round.

Britain's World No.10 lost in the Citi Open quarter-finals to Liudmila Samsonova, with her preparations for a US Open title defence later this month dealt another blow in the Canadian city of her birth.

The British teenager squandered chances to seize the initiative in either set in Toronto, letting a 2-0 lead slip in the second, before bowing out in one hour and 49 minutes.

"This is my game and so I should play like this always but sometimes it doesn't work," Giorgi said in her on-court interview.

Both players lost serve three times in a hard-fought opening set before Raducanu dug deep to fend off set point in the 12th game to force a tie-break.

But the 19-year-old Briton lost her way and failed to win a single point as Giorgi forced four mini-breaks to seize control and take the first set after an hour and 11 minutes.

Raducanu, who had failed to convert game point for a 5-3 lead in the opening set, broke Giorgi’s first service game in the second to lead 2-0.

But the World No.29 broke straight back and reeled off the next five games to set up a second-round clash with Belgium’s Elise Mertens.

Fans reacted to Raducanu's loss with a mixture of disappointment and optimism.

Camila Giorgi sets up Elise Mertens showdown

Up next for Giorgi will be Belgian Elise Mertens, who was a 7-6 (7-2) 6-1 winner over Hungary's Anna Bondar.

Giorgi's match began about five hours after Serena Williams, who is also competing at the hardcourt event this week, announced plans to retire so she can focus on other things that are important to her.

News of the 23-time grand slam champion's decision dominated talk among players and fans in attendance.

Seen here, Serena Williams hits a backhand in a tennis match in 2022.
Serena Williams' retirement announcement provided a dramatic backdrop from players in Canada. Pic: Getty

Elsewhere, Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic progressed through to the second round, with a 6-4 2-6 7-6 (7-3) victory over Veronika Kudermetova.

The 29-year-old needed two hours 19 minutes to see off the Russian world No.18 on Tuesday and set up a clash with top seed and world No.1 Iga Swiatek of Poland.

Also reaching the round of 32 was 10th seed Coco Gauff, a 6-1 6-3 winner over fellow American Madison Brengle, and China's Zheng Qinwen, who rallied from a set down to beat Canadian wildcard Rebecca Marino 3-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-4.

with AAP

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