‘I meant exactly what I said,’ John McEnroe sticks to statements about Emma Raducanu he made post Wimbledon
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Emma Raducanu and John McEnroe
Ever since she became the US Open champion, Emma Raducanu has been on cloud nine and has been the centre of attention. She created history by becoming the first qualifier in tennis history to win a grand slam. She beat Canadian Leylah Fernandez in the final on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Raducanu broke to the tennis world at Wimbledon couple of months back where she reached the fourth round despite bring ranked outside the top 300. Unfortunately, she had to retire mid-match due to stomach related issues. Fans and media sympathized with the 18-year old back then but tennis legend John McEnroe questioned her pressure handling skills after which he received a lot of negative spotlight.
After Raducanu’s US Open triumph, McEnroe still maintained his stance and said he meant exactly what he said. “I meant exactly what I said,” McEnroe said.
“I tried to relate it in a small way to my experience when I first went to Wimbledon also at 18. She did better than I did. I played Jimmy Connors, I hadn’t been on the Centre Court and I remember my legs shaking, feeling totally overwhelmed by the experience and almost happy that I didn’t win.”
“There’s also pressure you put on yourself and expectations others put on you. I mean that was to me as vanilla as it comes … I was very supportive of her, I thought, at the time. You know the papers over in England. Sometimes, they make a big deal out of nothing,” the American added.
‘Totally unexpected!’: McEnroe on 2021 US Open women’s singles final
McEnroe said Emma played the best tennis she possibly could and that there’s going to be a lot of focus on her now.
“I don’t think you could possibly do it any better than she did and win the US Open, are you kidding me?” McEnroe said. “It’s insane that she’s been able to do it. Now there’s obviously going to be a lot more focus on her, that’s incredible.”
The US Open final was played between two teenagers, the first time in over two decades. McEnroe said that two teenagers competing in a final was totally unexpected to him.
“Totally unexpected,” he said. “I never thought it would happen in my lifetime to see an 18 and 19-year-old do it. The last teenagers that were there were Serena Williams and Martina Hingis, who played in the final of 99′, so this doesn’t happen very often. I think the women’s game is more open than it’s ever been so that’s a sign that a lot more players believe they have a chance.”
Also read: ‘Maybe it will happen one day!’ 11-year old Emma Raducanu on being a grand slam champion
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Lakshya Chopra
(2607 Articles Published)