In a bizarre rule, it means that even if Raducanu can defend her title and win the US Open again next year, she can only lose points as the 40 gained from qualifying this year will drop off regardless.
The US Open marked her fourth official tour-level tournament since turning pro in 2018, with her first having come three months ago at the WTA 250 in Nottingham, where she received a wild card and lost in the opening round to compatriot Harriet Dart.
The new world No 23 of course then received a wild card into Wimbledon, and another into her first international tour-level tournament at the WTA 250 in San Jose off the back of her grass-court success, though lost in the first round again to Zhang Shuai.
Gone are the days where Raducanu will need to play qualifying or be gifted a wild card to enter tournaments, as her new top 25 ranking will allow the Brit to directly enter even the highest-level of tournaments.
